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
The novel opens with the news of William Stoner’s death, delivered in the restrained, factual tone of an obituary.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Building a factual record that firmly establishes the defendant’s primary responsibility - through photographs, video, witness accounts, and expert analysis - is an important component of effective plaintiff advocacy in California.
—Anton Lucanus
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Research has shown that training models on datasets that include examples of constructive disagreement, factual corrections, and objectively neutral responses, can rein in this effect.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 May 2026
The first of these challenges, truthfulness and factual accuracy, came to light when OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene in 2022.
—Ahmed Hamza, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for factual
Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 May 2026
Building a factual record that firmly establishes the defendant’s primary responsibility - through photographs, video, witness accounts, and expert analysis - is an important component of effective plaintiff advocacy in California.
—Anton Lucanus
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
Research has shown that training models on datasets that include examples of constructive disagreement, factual corrections, and objectively neutral responses, can rein in this effect.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 May 2026
The first of these challenges, truthfulness and factual accuracy, came to light when OpenAI’s ChatGPT burst onto the scene in 2022.
—Ahmed Hamza, The Conversation, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for factual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for factual
Adjective
-
His work, including the 2018 novel Mannelig in Chains (again available in English), is particularly relevant for its focus on historical memory, which speaks to the heart of Russian propaganda around the war in Ukraine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
The paragraphs in question are summarizing the historical background or context of the stories, with some instances containing the same 30 words in a row, or near identical passages with a word or phrase slightly tweaked.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
There are actual suites as well, ranging from 1,200 to 2,000 square feet with larger separate living areas.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
That means technology in many cases has more relevance than the actual content on the screen.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The documentary expansion runs alongside a broader portfolio.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
Structurally, the first two seasons of this show keep everything within a documentary format, up to the point at the end of the second season where Valerie leaves the Emmys and the cameras behind to be with Mickey in a much harder reality.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s no real way around historical McCarthyism.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Later in the day, the menu shifts to a mix of Chinese and international dishes, but the view is the real star.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Teaming up with Lucian to find the cure, Jim goes on an adventure through the city that brings him up close with all the tribes Jim would usually shun, from submissives in pup masks to shady but protective drag queens to the bears — amusingly depicted here as literal bears.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
-
And the Not Fair League made that literal.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
This is true only in the narrowest sense.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
That was certainly true on Monday, as Lamont signed a new 124-page labor bill into law.—
Andrew Brown,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Pee-Wee as Himself, the 2025 Emmy award winner for best documentary or nonfictional special, is also among the nominees.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2026
-
That delirious excess befits the essence of Lapid’s method, which is a fusion of fiction with indigestibly and irreducibly nonfictional elements.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Factual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/factual. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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