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
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Recent Examples of actually
Something as simple as disposing of overflow trash can actually have big consequences in terms of neighbor relationships.
—
Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Probably not, actually, and here's why.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
Humor aside, senior captain Anna Wilson actually told the team in the huddle right before the Rosary game that Lee would break the 500 barrier with a victory.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
But in this very narrow instance, at least, that may actually be a good thing.
—Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for actually
Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
Probably not, actually, and here's why.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
Humor aside, senior captain Anna Wilson actually told the team in the huddle right before the Rosary game that Lee would break the 500 barrier with a victory.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
But in this very narrow instance, at least, that may actually be a good thing.
—Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for actually
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actually
Adverb
-
Rather than the usual crisscross pattern, Holmes’ sweater features solid block diamonds in bold colors for a harlequin look that is honestly a breath of fresh air.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But honestly there’s another experience that was quite powerful.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Chappell Roan always makes a statement on the red carpet, but this is really something else.—
Pamela Vázquez,
Glamour,
2 Feb. 2026
-
He's really trimmed the fat from a lot of his game.—
Scott Fowler The Charlotte Observer,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
And, quite frankly, the Patriots do need to blitz to bring pressure, despite having some formidable pass rushers on their defensive line.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
The film frankly depicts the extreme sub-dom relationship that Erika lures Elliot into, peppered with Araki’s trademark playful-surrealism while committed to a certain, refreshing explicitness.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Tucked in among all of the many things that Pep Guardiola has got off his chest about referees over the past couple of weeks was a very small detail that might explain an awful lot.—
Sam Lee,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Yes, there's a very pretty swath of sand leading to the Atlantic Ocean, where lifeguards keep watch every day of the year.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
But the few lessons learned from January’s whirlwind, and indeed Trump’s previous entanglements with Iran, suggest his military options ahead in the Gulf are limited, and far from great.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Xu took these comments to heart and spent the last two years working on a flying umbrella that did indeed follow him.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
31 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Las Cruces sits quietly in the southern stretch of New Mexico, framed by the Organ Mountains on one side and vast desert sky on the other, setting the scene for a truly romantic weekend soaking in Southwestern culture.—
Ronny Maye,
Essence,
1 Feb. 2026
-
This is a powerful time to reassess your finances, recognize your talents and make sure your income is in alignment with what truly matters to you.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actually. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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