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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Recent Examples of de facto
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
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Beauty Turns Individuals into Communities Beauty salons and barber shops have traditionally played the role of de facto community centers in many places around the world.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 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
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
Beauty Turns Individuals into Communities Beauty salons and barber shops have traditionally played the role of de facto community centers in many places around the world.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 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
-
And never mind that there is an actual anti-fascist movement, not only in Europe, but one that’s existed in the United States.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The sled, which is later recovered from the water, allows engineers to evaluate the system’s performance and stress tolerance without risking an actual aircraft.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Sometimes, though, the homeowners and their stories are truly the real treasure.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The film, which includes the real audio of Hind Rajab before her death, has attracted several high-profile supporters, including Brad Pitt, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuaron, and Jonathan Glazer.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Rather, her photos, documents and collages point to the extreme paucity of surviving evidence and the utter impossibility of a cohesive, factual narrative.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
-
According to Bower’s account, Halligan did not identify any factual inaccuracy in the report.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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In my experience, this is especially true in the lonely hours of the night while struggling with chronic pain.—
Joni Eareckson Tada,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
For most Galatasaray supporters, domestic titles were never the true measure of success; Europe was.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
So many seem eager to be rid of the labors of thought and expression—the very labors that define them as free and autonomous human beings—by ceding them to generative artificial intelligence.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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The same Philadelphia that witnessed the birth of American independence also nurtured competing visions of nationhood—ones that challenged the very foundations of who could claim full citizenship in the republic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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