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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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 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

PetMD recommends skipping the fancy labels and instead choosing shampoos that are pH-balanced for dogs and targeted to actual skin and coat needs like dryness, shedding or itching.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Humidity will remain high, making conditions feel warmer than the actual temperature.

— Keily Alfonzo, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of actual

Adjective

The productivity is real, the margin improvement is real and the speed gains are real, and every company should capture them.

— Sumeet Salwan, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026
David Pakman examines just how far the need to perform for digital spectators has seeped into real life.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of real

Adjective

Showrunner Felicia Pride brought the concept to the streaming service with a goal to modernize the look and feel of the show while staying true to much of the feeling from the original.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
As much as there’s little room for nuance in the interval of frenzied overreaction that is Week 1 of the NFL season, two seemingly contradictory statements can be true at the exact same time.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of true

Adjective

There's of course the very birthplace of pizza, Italy, where some of the best pizzaiolos in the world still live and train in hubs ranging from Rome to Caserta.

— Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026
Grief, forgiveness and public scrutiny Lindsay Clancy has admitted to the killing of her three children from the very start.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 21 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 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of de facto

adjective

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