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

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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 Additionally, post-IPO performance in Hong Kong has outperformed historical averages, with listings generating an average return of 60% in their first three months. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 23 July 2026 The Venice Film Festival unveiled the lineup for its 83rd edition at a news conference Thursday in the ornate historical archive of parent body La Biennale. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 July 2026 Trump is hoping the mid-decade redistricting can help Republicans buck a historical pattern in which the president’s party typically loses seats in midterms. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 In an era saturated with opinion, that kind of historical context may be the most valuable thing historians have to offer. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for historical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for historical
  1. factual
  2. literal
  3. documentary
  4. true
  5. nonfictional
Adjective
  • Sanders noted that the president’s proclamation, which imposed a partial travel ban on holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports, contained several factual errors.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
  • The service has launched on the App Store, Google Play and a dedicated website with more than 100 titles across crime, drama, reality, dating, factual entertainment and docs.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 14 July 2026
Definition of factual
Adjective
  • Chan is rarely literal when discussing his work, preferring poetic ambiguity over direct explanation.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • But The Odyssey is the first time his devotion to the literal Real has been wielded so effectively.
    — Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
Definition of literal
Adjective
  • And then fans will have to wait for the documentary film on Bottom of the Hill — which is still in the works — to experience what this concert hotspot was like.
    — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 20 July 2026
  • De-Lestrade was behind hit show The Staircase and won an Oscar for documentary Murder on a Sunday Morning, about the Brenton Butler case in Florida.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 16 July 2026
Definition of documentary
Adjective
  • The same may be true for military personnel, law enforcement officers, commercial drivers or others who are subject to strict workplace drug-testing programs.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2026
  • This is the true bureaucracy standing in the way of housing that families can afford — not federal programs or subsidies helping those very families stay housed.
    — Jake Day, Baltimore Sun, 19 July 2026
Definition of true
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
Definition of nonfictional

Browse Nearby Words

historic
historical
histories
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Cite this Entry

“Historical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/historical. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on historical

Nglish: Translation of historical for Spanish Speakers

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