fictitious

adjective

fik-ˈti-shəs How to pronounce fictitious (audio)
Definition of fictitiousnext
as in fictional
not real and existing only in the imagination his wartime exploits turned out to be entirely fictitious, as he had never even been in the military

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fictitious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of fictitious are apocryphal, fabulous, legendary, and mythical. While all these words mean "having the nature of something imagined or invented," fictitious implies fabrication and suggests artificiality or contrivance more than deliberate falsification or deception.

fictitious characters

When would apocryphal be a good substitute for fictitious?

The words apocryphal and fictitious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, apocryphal implies an unknown or dubious source or origin or may imply that the thing itself is dubious or inaccurate.

a book that repeats many apocryphal stories

Where would fabulous be a reasonable alternative to fictitious?

The synonyms fabulous and fictitious are sometimes interchangeable, but fabulous stresses the marvelous or incredible character of something without necessarily implying impossibility or actual nonexistence.

a land of fabulous riches

In what contexts can legendary take the place of fictitious?

Although the words legendary and fictitious have much in common, legendary suggests the elaboration of invented details and distortion of historical facts produced by popular tradition.

the legendary exploits of Davy Crockett

When can mythical be used instead of fictitious?

While in some cases nearly identical to fictitious, mythical implies a purely fanciful explanation of facts or the creation of beings and events out of the imagination.

mythical creatures

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fictitious The actors who performed in the fictitious band Spinal Tap wound up performing several actual shows together, including an appearance on Saturday Night Live in 1984. —Marina Watts, People.com, 14 July 2025 The Terrifier film franchise stars Art the Clown as a demonic killer who stalks his victims in the fictitious Miles County in Staten Island, New York. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 10 July 2025 Senegal just ditched its plans for the singer’s multibillion-dollar smart city in the country, reminiscent of Marvel’s fictitious nation in its Black Panther franchise. —Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 July 2025 Further blurring fact from fiction is this latest approach of trying to capitalize on a TikTok viral moment by having a fictitious creator recite the words of a real creator. —Shannon Bond, NPR, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fictitious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fictitious
  1. fictional
  2. imaginary
  3. mythical
Adjective
  • The story centers around a die-hard musical theater fan who plays his favorite (fictional) 1920s musical on his record player, bringing the show to life within his apartment.
    — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 July 2025
  • The employees of Dunder Mifflin Paper Co.'s Scranton, Pennsylvania, office were filmed for nine seasons by a fictional documentary crew, a plot point that became extremely important in the series' final season.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Definition of fictional
Adjective
  • Is all this merely a sci-fi imaginary consideration?
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • Any other Countdown viewers dig their fingernails into an imaginary steering wheel when this second SUV followed his buddy into this left turn with zero regard for the oncoming white sedan?!
    — Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 18 July 2025
Definition of imaginary
Adjective
  • Its mythical story left an indelible mark on my mind.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • Opened in 2020, the museum features interactive exhibits dedicated to the mythical sea creature.
    — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 July 2025
Definition of mythical

Browse Nearby Words

fictions
fictitious
fictitiousness
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Cite this Entry

“Fictitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fictitious. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of fictitious for Spanish Speakers

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