as in imaginary
not real and existing only in the imagination
zoomed around the house in a make-believe car
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fiction
Synonyms & Similar Words
make believe
3 of 3phrase
as in pretend
to present a false appearance of
He made believe he was sick to get out of going to school.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of make-believe
Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
Sara Ruberg, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Duolingo’s make-believe owl mascot Duo dies by Cybertruck in new TikTok These videos are bringing joy to the internet: Inside 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' Spirit Tunnel Bill to rename Greenland to 'Red, White and Blueland' introduced by Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter
What does Presidents Day commemorate?
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Adjective
Yet in the past, intimate scenes in theater, film and television were rarely treated with the same mindfulness as a make-believe duel.
—Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2023
The internet provided a fertile new stage for my proclivity for make-believe.
—Kira Homsher, Longreads, 14 Mar. 2023
Noun
With its whimsical and slyly subversive sense of humor, the show swiftly attracted an audience beyond its core demographic of preadolescent children, and Ms. Stewart and other members of its cast embraced its anarchic and surreal spirit of make-believe.
—Sara Ruberg, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Duolingo’s make-believe owl mascot Duo dies by Cybertruck in new TikTok These videos are bringing joy to the internet: Inside 'The Jennifer Hudson Show' Spirit Tunnel Bill to rename Greenland to 'Red, White and Blueland' introduced by Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter
What does Presidents Day commemorate?
—James Powel, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make-believe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for make-believe
Adjective
-
Don’t wait for an official decision – get your imaginary head space cast list started.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Barrymore then launched up from her seat to showcase how Mr. Clean shows off his sensual side, shaking her hips and waving an imaginary mop.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The parallels between real life and fiction were haunting.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2025
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To receive The New Yorker’s prize-winning journalism, photography, and short films, along with podcasts, cartoons, fiction, and more, sign up for our daily newsletter.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In addition to retiring the mortgage early, the move would save our fictitious borrower $46,920.89 in interest.—
Gary Sandler,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Between February and August 2022, prosecutors say Santos used her credit card repeatedly, attributing donations to her, her daughter, or fictitious names.—
Jason Volack,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Drawing on Gary Klein’s Recognition-Primed Decision (RPD) model, such contexts reveal how experienced professionals make rapid yet effective decisions by relying on pattern recognition, mental simulation, and intuitive reasoning.—
Hamilton Mann,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Teams will be able to operate offense vs. defense drills, including 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 simulations, during OTAs.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Bad Summer People, which has drawn comparisons to The White Lotus, is set in the idyllic fictional town of Salcombe, Fire Island, and follows a sequence of life shattering events when a body is discovered off the side of the boardwalk.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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Nowhere is this attention to detail more felt than in the production design of the studio itself, which is intended to emulate great legacy companies like Paramount and Warner Bros., the latter of which stands in for the series’ fictional Continental Studios in exterior scenes.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Building artificial skin with room to grow The researchers initially sought to create a skin imitation that could accurately mimic the three layers in human skin: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
3 Apr. 2025
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By contrast, Doom: The Dark Ages flings the player back into the dark ages to witness a war between two factions that look like a low-rent knock-off imitation of series like Warhammer — grotesqueries and all.—
Kazuma Hashimoto,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This relic of constitutional law, which the Supreme Court hasn’t taken seriously since its quiet death in the New Deal era, is more mythical than historical—holding, more or less, that Congress cannot delegate its lawmaking power to another branch of government.—
Cristian Farias,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
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This name originates from a Greek myth. Eunice: Another historic Greek name, the mythical Eunice was the sea-nymph daughter of Nereus and Doris.—
Lydia Wang,
Parents,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The wolf has a big representation for Shakira’s identity.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
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By all accounts Joanna James is a visionary and tireless advocate for female representation at the highest levels in the competitive hospitality and restaurant industries.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Make-believe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/make-believe. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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