1
as in honestly
to tell the truth
actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Those who actually run elections, Republican and Democratic officials alike, have repeatedly affirmed that mail voting is safe, secure, and reliable.
—
Coalition, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
Curiously, data on where retirees actually move doesn’t show a massive migration to cheap states.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
After a property owner applies for C-PACE lending, the Illinois Finance Authority is the one that actually issues bonds or notes through private lenders, according to Lindburg.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Additional highlights include a stand collar, a drawcord hood, and deep double pockets that actually keep your hands toasty.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for actually
Coalition, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
Curiously, data on where retirees actually move doesn’t show a massive migration to cheap states.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
After a property owner applies for C-PACE lending, the Illinois Finance Authority is the one that actually issues bonds or notes through private lenders, according to Lindburg.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Additional highlights include a stand collar, a drawcord hood, and deep double pockets that actually keep your hands toasty.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for actually
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actually
Adverb
-
Just every player on the team, honestly.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Oh, honestly, a little bit of both.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
So there's really no choice but for the four major conference commissioners to compile a set of rules and guidelines that make at least a marginal bit of sense.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
So getting through that year was really difficult.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
There is absolutely no evidence that frauds of this type or anywhere near this scale are happening in any of the other four states, or frankly that there is a large volume of as-yet-undiscovered fraud in Minnesota itself.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
All of that there is ripe for decades, frankly, of investigative journalism that’s happening from from our colleagues in the local media in Los Angeles.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The senior administration official said the transfer would happen quickly because Venezuela’s crude is very heavy, which means it can’t be stored for long.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Pipes and sewers can be very dangerous for pets and wildlife and Roto-Rooter, with specialized equipment and personnel, has become a go-to call to save cats, dogs, turtles and more.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Peterson, who did indeed return to the court, was hacked on an off-balance 3 with one second to play.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The island of Petite Martinique is indeed petite, at less than 600 acres and with about 900 residents.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Sales are truly rare here, so take advantage of discounts up to a whopping 70 percent off.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Lord Katsushige, the previous head of the Nabeshima domain, even encouraged the experience to truly understand how to be of service.—
Kenneth Andrew Andres Leonardo,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actually. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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