Synonyms of historical

historical

adjective

hi-ˈstȯr-i-kəl 

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

• factual
• literal
• documentary
• true
• nonfictional
• objective
• actual
• real
• matter-of-fact
• authentic
• reliable
• documented
• simple
• genuine
• hard
• bona fide
• verifiable
• demonstrable
• sustainable
• indisputable
• established
• right
• irrefutable
• unquestionable
• undeniable
• provable
• certain
• incontestable
• incontrovertible
• plain
• undoubted
• supportable
• confirmable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fictional
• theoretical
• fictitious
• nonhistorical
• speculative
• hypothetical
• unhistorical
• fictionalized
• mythical
• imaginary
• apocryphal
• legendary
• undocumented
• fanciful
• nonfactual
• nondocumentary
• unauthentic
• fantastic
• invented
• fabulous
• exaggerated
• make-believe
• chimerical
• imagined
• pretend
• embroidered
• unsupportable
• made-up
• insupportable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of historical

Saunders’s novel mixes his characters’ epitaph-like accounts of their lives and other dialogue with real text from the historical record, blurring the boundary between speech, which rises in living time, and writing, which exists outside it. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026

Architect Seamus McGuire of New Orleans firm Cicada helped navigate historical codes and redraw the map to capture some of the glamour that had drained away in recent years. — Lauren Mechling, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 2026

There are plenty of events in metro Atlanta to commemorate the month, and historical sites and state parks offer another way to learn about and honor this important part of our state’s and nation’s history. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Chicago Tribune historical photo A boy holds his free pumpkin in the Winston Hills community in Woodridge in 1966. — Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026