historical

adjective

hi-ˈstȯr-i-kəl How to pronounce historical (audio)
Definition of historicalnext
as in factual
restricted to or based on fact a historical novel that tells the story of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps through the eyes of a young boy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 historical The president has also ordered sweeping changes to historical monuments and buildings in Washington that fall under NPS’ purview, including the creation of a White House ballroom and a 250-foot-tall (76-meter-tall) memorial arch. — Matthew Daly, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 An Egyptian archaeological mission has discovered three tombs from different historical periods at the Sheikh Sobi archaeological site in the Bahariya Oasis. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Kushner’s partner in this historical venture is no secret to anybody, at least in Los Angeles or the entertainment industry or the larger business world. — ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Produced by Chile’s Errante with Germany’s Dirk Manthey Film, the project connects that historical case with mothers facing similar judgments a century later. — John Hopewell, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for historical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for historical
  1. factual
  2. literal
  3. documentary
  4. true
  5. nonfictional
Adjective
  • Citizens cannot make informed decisions without clear, factual information from those who seek to represent them.
    — Drema Hymon, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The hundred-and-ninety-two-page document appeared to be an incomplete draft, and was filled with annotations, in bright-red text, about factual errors and unsourced claims.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of factual
Adjective
  • According to a Meta news release, the team explored hundreds of designs, from all-caps to literal handwriting.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The movie’s greatest diversion occurs when Wilson meets an aging rock-and-roll musician, and his rock documentary becomes a literal rockumentary.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of literal
Adjective
  • With no immediate takers on a documentary pitch her team put together, Rice has mulled booking a one-way ticket to Dubai and showing up at the last hotel McDonnell was known to be living at to close the loop on the story herself.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The documentary crew would often turn in for the night after pulling 10-hour days, while sellers like Olive and Nikki kept moving product well into the evening hours.
    — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of documentary
Adjective
  • But regardless of any lack of confidence in Hamas’ true intentions, in Mladenov’s faith in the ability to verify weapons decommissioning, or indeed Netanyahu’s own willingness to order any troop withdrawals, why poke Trump so publicly in the eye?
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This problem-first strategy is crucial for unlocking AI's true potential.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • This is what gives the film its experiential sincerity — the lived perspective of its Ukrainian crew leaving a nonfictional trace across every level of the fiction, something Stever handles with unusual reverence.
    — Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of nonfictional

Browse Nearby Words

historic
historical
histories
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Historical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/historical. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on historical

Nglish: Translation of historical for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All