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
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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
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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
-
But this island destination also boasts a walkable downtown, natural beauty, historical fort, top-notch golf courses, and a mix of both luxe resorts and quaint inns.—
Lisa A. Beach,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
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Kon Knueppel’s presence couldn’t spur the Charlotte Hornets to any historical luck.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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The upstairs of Niall’s house was a set, and the actual dinner table was someone’s home.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
8 May 2026
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Students and faculty use it for notes, study guides and even actual final exams.—
Asal Rezaei,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Think Deadliest Catch and its quasi-documentary format or, more recently, Love on the Spectrum.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
10 May 2026
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Ultimately, the team’s work resulted in uncovering documentary evidence of more than 1,000 incidents of ghost voting, forgery and other forms of vote fraud.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s no real way around historical McCarthyism.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
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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
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The most literal allusion to A24’s core business is a small red tub of popcorn for the table.—
Julian Sancton,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
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Lippes’ fall 2026 collection drew from vintage automobiles, with the designer telling WWD that the references came through in color, texture and slick fabrics rather than literal car motifs.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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This is true only in the narrowest sense.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
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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
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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
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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 14 May. 2026.
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