DE FACTO Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

de facto

adjective

Definition of de facto

as in actual

existing in fact and not merely as a possibility with the death of his father, he became the de facto head of the family

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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 de facto The portal has brought about de facto unfettered free agency in major college football and basketball. — Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Mar. 2023 Senior centers across the country function as de facto community centers. — Eliza Fawcett, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2023 The 16 women who had challenged the status quo, most notably Nancy Hopkins, the reluctant de facto leader, were thrilled but eager to return to their roles as elite scientists. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023 Pollard only lasted a handful of seasons, and in short order, the NFL erected its own de facto color barrier in 1933, thanks in large part to the efforts of George Preston Marshall, the then-Boston Redskins owner. — Robert Silverman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for de facto

Recent Examples of Synonyms for de facto

Adjective

The longer the song goes on, the more the relentless pulse of the drums starts to seem indifferent and mechanical, an actual machine with no awareness of human life, while the drones grow longer and feel more and more like deep sighs.

— Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
The company disputes that 27 odor complaints since 2024 and 67 videos of work being done outside permitted hours referenced in a city staff report represent actual violations of the city’s noise, odor and operating hour rules.

— Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of actual

Adjective

In July, Anthropic described three instances where its Claude models accessed the internet during an evaluation and gained unauthorized access to the real systems of three different organizations.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
The Taurus Moon opposes Venus in Scorpio, highlighting the gap between what feels comfortable and what creates real closeness.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of real

Adjective

The court has already said that second half is Congress’ job, and the usual objection — that nobody could tell the difference — is about to stop being true.

— John Mildenberger, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
But back then, Carla was worth significantly more than Morgan; now, the inverse is true.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of true

Adjective

Increasingly, that means the prospects of the Mag Seven are tied to the very asset class it was once used as a hedge against.

— Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026
At the VMAs, Dakota Johnson went all out with a very ’50s-style tomato-red manicure that will undoubtedly become a trend in the coming months.

— Ana Morales, Glamour, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of very

Browse Nearby Words

defacing

de facto

defalcation

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“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of de facto

adjective

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