1
as in honestly
to tell the truth
actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in really
in actual fact
I call her Aunt Emily, but she is actually my cousin, not my aunt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of actually
The first strike actually came defensively.
—
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Spend some time worrying about that thing that’s actually quite meaningless, getting mad at that person cutting me off in traffic?
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Even more revealing, the simulations showed that the magnetic fields produced in the convective zone actually help keep the tachocline narrow, not just the other way around.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
The foot issues actually trace back to last season.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actually
Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Spend some time worrying about that thing that’s actually quite meaningless, getting mad at that person cutting me off in traffic?
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Even more revealing, the simulations showed that the magnetic fields produced in the convective zone actually help keep the tachocline narrow, not just the other way around.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
The foot issues actually trace back to last season.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actually
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actually
Adverb
-
But then Belly scraps her Parisian plans and pledges her young life to Jeremiah, a rising super senior at Finch majoring in getting high and going to Cabo (which, quite honestly, is more age-appropriate than a wedding).—
Vogue,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
But tag-ins and assists are still essential and, honestly, easier than ever.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The house is haunted by a family of farmers that lived and died on the land, murdered horribly by the patriarch of the family, but really, the problem is the demon that controls the mirror and its dark reflections.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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The Panthers should probably promote practice-squad linebacker Krys Barnes in the coming weeks as insurance for Trevin Wallace, who was a major liability in Week 1 after a really strong summer.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
And frankly, the front office deserves criticism for that.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Put frankly, dismissing intention has boxed the ivory tower into a corner for its ability to handle difficult conversations relating to religion.—
Matthew Mayhew,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
The player known as Dan the Man during his playing days remains very active in a lot of different arenas.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Some like to get to the airport very early, with time for a full picnic, while others are dashing in at the last minute while downing a protein bar.—
Jessie Beck,
AFAR Media,
16 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
In real life, Barkovskaya found the Infiniment fragrances remained unchanged on her skin for an entire day, and the smell did indeed stay on her clothes for the full 30 hours.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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And indeed, Sunday marked the first time the Bears allowed 50 points in a game since doing so in back-to-back losses to the Patriots and Packers during a freefall under Marc Trestman in 2014.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
There have been many farewells for Dockery across her time doing Downton, but reading the new film’s script for the first time, the sense of finality truly hit.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Mistakenly identified as Earth’s ambassador to the rest of the universe, and completely unprepared for that kind of pressure, Elio must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, survive a series of formidable trials, and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actually. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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