1
as in historical
restricted to or based on fact
a factual biography of George Washington that scoffs at the story about the cherry tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in actual
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
a serious scientist, she is only interested in factual phenomena and lets others speculate about the hypothetical
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of factual
And depending on the specific factual circumstances, there is no guarantee that the courts would win.
—
Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
Trump’s argument contains numerous factual errors.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
The motion contended that prosecutors lack the authority to determine the order in which cases are tried and did not present any factual basis for the court to decide which case should proceed first.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025
Depending on the persona or context used in prompting large language models, current models subtly tilt toward particular positions – even when factual accuracy remains intact.
—Adrian Kuenzler, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for factual
Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
Trump’s argument contains numerous factual errors.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
The motion contended that prosecutors lack the authority to determine the order in which cases are tried and did not present any factual basis for the court to decide which case should proceed first.
—Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025
Depending on the persona or context used in prompting large language models, current models subtly tilt toward particular positions – even when factual accuracy remains intact.
—Adrian Kuenzler, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for factual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for factual
Adjective
-
One film has dominated much of the season and shattered records, while the other carries an undercurrent of passion and historical weight that could resonate on a preferential Oscar ballot.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Others have expressed concern about nationalist rhetoric and disputes over historical memory, particularly regarding Hungary’s role in the Holocaust.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Carote 16-Piece Nonstick Cookware Set The right nonstick cookware can be an actual kitchen game changer—and Carote’s 16-piece set delivers on that promise.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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Everything was really incorrect for the period—shiny, sparkly, overdone—but the actual shapes and silhouettes of his clothes are quite accurate.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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There’s a lot of almost documentary material in it as well.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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The race for the documentary feature Academy Award spotlights quality filmmaking, but also requires a whole lot of money and the support of international doc branch voters.—
Addie Morfoot,
Variety,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The defense bent a lot and didn’t break often but didn’t have any real signature plays.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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While some calas are accessible by car, others can only be reached by a short hike—that’s where visitors will find the real magic and privacy.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The mid-century offered more literal interpretations of cave living, from The Flintstones (1960) to the villainous Bond lair, often hidden within or carved into cliffs.—
Leonora Epstein,
Architectural Digest,
7 Nov. 2025
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With the onset of sunrise, the Creature has chosen to embrace and live his life fully despite all his broken — literal and symbolic — parts.—
Yasmeen Hamadeh,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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This is especially true for plants that are marginally hardy in your area, as well as common perennials like woodland phlox, lamb’s ear, and hardy geraniums.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
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Fellow true freshman Joshua Moore should be in line for a bigger role next season as well.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Recently, this sacrament has garnered nonfictional attention.—
Timothy Gabrielli,
The Conversation,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Factual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/factual. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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