1
as in genuine
being exactly as appears or as claimed
this shirt is real silk, not polyester
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in actual
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
asked her parents if the Tooth Fairy was real
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in true
free from any intent to deceive or impress others
real folk who don't put on airs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in very
to a great degree
this fish tastes real good
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 real
Chris Willman, Variety, 14 June 2025
That’s the real opportunity for the industry today.
—Shahar Man, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Katie Bain, Billboard, 20 May 2025
There's no real clear idea on what's durable, what's not, what's up for negotiation, what's not.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for real
Adjective
His journey out of that, and commitment to being real in discussing it, makes for a contrast with the Michael Tait scandal now running through the Christian music world, as evidence that, yes, even Christian music stars can confront and confess their demons, before public duress demands it.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 14 June 2025
That’s the real opportunity for the industry today.
—Shahar Man, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Adverb
Then in 2017, a shooting in a club adjacent to the festival left one person dead, made the threat of violence painfully real and effectively forced BPM out of town.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 20 May 2025
There's no real clear idea on what's durable, what's not, what's up for negotiation, what's not.
—Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for real
Recent Examples of Synonyms for real
Adjective
-
Learning to be resilient from the inside out is essential for developing genuine capacity and successfully navigating challenging times.—
Melissa Cidado,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
DeBlois dials the cuteness quotient back somewhat while giving this massive animal a genuine presence.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Their wounds are remarkably fresh, given the dates of the actual bombings.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
-
However, the actual offboarding, where organizations begin to lose critical knowledge, often occurs long before and much more quietly.—
Bhushan Parikh,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
This milieu is both true to history and solves one of the series’ longstanding structural flaws.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 June 2025
-
Natural Rugs Not all natural fibers belong in nature, and that is especially true of popular rug materials like jute and sisal.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
20 June 2025
Adverb
-
Fans will get a chance to see Psycho Clown in a WWE environment very soon.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
-
The company’s operations were enormous and very interesting.—
Nash Buckingham,
Outdoor Life,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Another mid-day favorite is Olives, an authentic Greek taverna owned by Nick and Gayle Mourgides.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
14 June 2025
-
Blending contemporary luxury with rustic Tuscan charm, the property features landscaped gardens, swimming pools with lazy river-flow current systems, tennis courts, and an on-site restaurant serving authentic Italian cuisine with fresh local ingredients.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
In turn, Bivins brought in another friend to execute the deadly plot, according to an FBI criminal complaint and the factual statement filed with his plea agreement.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2025
-
Have three response templates ready: factual correction for misinformation, values reaffirmation for criticism, and security protocol for threats.—
Gillian Oakenfull,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
These talismans of use are analogous to the often unaffected art work shown at Intuit.—
Edward Keegan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2025
-
Even when the Panama Canal had endured a months-long drought that forced the ACP to implement a series of daily transit and draft restrictions throughout the second half of 2023, container ships had largely been unaffected compared to other vessels.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
How can leaders conduct honest conversations without inspiring defensiveness, denial, or backlash?—
Lauren Howe,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
One of those fans, apparently, is singer Ciara, who recently urged the Harlem artist to make Lampkin an honest women after running into the rapper in the BET Awards press room this weekend.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Real.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/real. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share