Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective authentic contrast with its synonyms?

The words bona fide and genuine are common synonyms of authentic. While all three words mean "being actually and exactly what is claimed," authentic implies being fully trustworthy as according with fact; it can also stress painstaking or faithful imitation of an original.

an authentic account of the perilous journey
an authentic reproduction
authentic Vietnamese cuisine

When can bona fide be used instead of authentic?

The words bona fide and authentic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bona fide implies good faith and sincerity of intention.

a bona fide offer for the stock

Where would genuine be a reasonable alternative to authentic?

The words genuine and authentic can be used in similar contexts, but genuine implies actual character not counterfeited, imitated, or adulterated; it also connotes definite origin from a source.

genuine piety
genuine maple syrup
a genuine Mark Twain autograph

Examples of authentic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Spaghetti and meatballs Ever dreamed of going to Italy and enjoying some authentic meatballs and spaghetti after a long day on the canals of Venice or in the museums of Florence? Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024 According to the press release, Davidtz wanted an untrained actor to ensure the central character’s portrayal remained authentic. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Sep. 2024 Here are six strategic imperatives that create authentic engagement and unlock growth: Creation not translation Too often companies do the bare minimum by translating an advertisement, press release, or social post into Spanish. Xavier A. Gutierrez, TIME, 25 Sep. 2024 Next time: How to earn patient trust by building genuine relationships that focus on being authentic, inclusive, and empathic. Glenn Llopis, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for authentic 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'authentic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near authentic

Cite this Entry

“Authentic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authentic. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on authentic

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