Synonyms of literal

literal

adjective

ˈli-t(ə-)rəl 

as in historical

restricted to or based on fact

a literal account of the explorer's adventures is actually a lot less interesting than his own exaggerated stories

Synonyms & Similar Words

• historical
• factual
• true
• documentary
• nonfictional
• matter-of-fact
• real
• actual
• objective
• simple
• reliable
• authentic
• hard
• genuine
• documented
• bona fide
• verifiable
• demonstrable
• right
• plain
• provable
• sustainable
• irrefutable
• indisputable
• incontrovertible
• undeniable
• unquestionable
• established
• certain
• incontestable
• supportable
• undoubted
• confirmable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fictional
• theoretical
• fictitious
• hypothetical
• speculative
• nonhistorical
• fictionalized
• unhistorical
• imaginary
• apocryphal
• mythical
• undocumented
• fanciful
• legendary
• nonfactual
• invented
• nondocumentary
• exaggerated
• unauthentic
• make-believe
• chimerical
• fantastic
• imagined
• fabulous
• pretend
• embroidered
• made-up
• unsupportable
• insupportable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of literal

In a literal race against time, Beam sculpted an indelible archive. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 July 2026

The featurette teases Zada as Haymitch, with scenes ranging from the literal sunrise on his Reaping Day to Capitol interviews to the Games itself. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 4 July 2026

Treating the Hot Spring Like a Pool Visiting a hot spring or sento public bath is a literal immersion in a bathing culture that has lasted more than a millennium. — Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026

Go literal and finish your manicure with a sprinkling of blueberries and strawberries, or keep it subtle with a blueberry milk or strawberry milk hue. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 3 July 2026

Video

Literally

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