Synonyms of real

real 1 of 2

adjective

ˈrē(-ə)l 

1

as in genuine

being exactly as appears or as claimed

this shirt is real silk, not polyester

Synonyms & Similar Words

• genuine
• true
• authentic
• honest
• actual
• original
• unmistakable
• historical
• for real
• certified
• bona fide
• sure-enough
• certifiable
• pure
• right
• legitimate
• very
• identifiable
• legal
• dinkum
• pukka
• echt
• verifiable
• recognizable
• lawful
• accurate
• undeniable
• proven
• indisputable
• undoubted
• unquestionable
• validated
• irrefutable
• veritable
• incontrovertible
• substantiated
• indubitable
• proper
• correct
• incontestable
• verified
• unadulterated
• unalloyed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• false
• fake
• unreal
• phony
• bogus
• pseudo
• spurious
• mock
• counterfeit
• artificial
• sham
• synthetic
• imitation
• simulated
• supposititious
• unauthentic
• unnatural
• factitious
• suppositious
• manufactured
• misleading
• deceptive
• fabricated
• man-made
• delusive
• concocted
• delusory

2

as in actual

existing in fact and not merely as a possibility

asked her parents if the Tooth Fairy was real

Synonyms & Similar Words

• actual
• factual
• true
• genuine
• very
• concrete
• effective
• literal
• final
• existent
• sure-enough
• valid
• absolute
• proven
• substantial
• realistic
• tangible
• demonstrated
• de facto
• convincing
• undeniable
• validated
• real-life
• authentic
• unmistakable
• substantiated
• real-world
• positive
• certain
• objective
• confirmed
• indisputable
• unquestionable
• believable
• inescapable
• irrefutable
• verifiable
• established
• incontrovertible
• incontestable
• bona fide
• authenticated
• indubitable
• authoritative
• palpable
• verified
• attested
• certified
• hard
• certifiable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• potential
• possible
• theoretical
• hypothetical
• ideal
• nonexistent
• alleged
• conjectural
• platonic
• supposed
• assumed
• fictional
• fictitious
• imaginary
• illusory
• imagined
• reputed
• envisioned
• legendary
• suppositional
• conceived
• inexistent
• fabled
• fanciful
• visualized
• fake
• romantic
• pictured
• chimerical
• envisaged
• make-believe
• symbolic
• invented
• unreal
• virtual
• pretend
• abstract
• fabricated
• made-up

3

as in true

free from any intent to deceive or impress others

real folk who don't put on airs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• genuine
• true
• unaffected
• honest
• simple
• innocent
• sincere
• naive
• natural
• straightforward
• spontaneous
• guileless
• inexperienced
• unpretentious
• ingenuous
• artless
• on the level
• unpretending
• candid
• direct
• open
• straight
• unsophisticated
• childlike
• frank
• impressionable
• plain
• unworldly
• malleable
• wide-eyed
• trustful
• trusting
• unforced
• simpleminded
• gee-whiz
• unstudied
• free
• persuadable
• persuasible
• gullible
• openhearted
• plainspoken
• susceptible
• dewy-eyed
• unguarded
• exploitable
• unwary
• single-minded
• free-spoken

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• artificial
• false
• fake
• critical
• assuming
• phony
• affected
• artful
• suspicious
• dishonest
• pretentious
• skeptical
• cynical
• wary
• insincere
• sophisticated
• worldly
• cosmopolitan
• civilized
• polished
• mistrustful
• subtle
• cultured
• deceptive
• refined
• guileful
• cultivated
• sharp
• manipulative
• dissembling
• hypocritical
• dissimulating
• smooth
• crooked
• tricky
• devious
• cunning
• deceitful
• slippery
• slick
• shrewd
• crafty
• designing
• wily
• sly
• worldly-wise
• calculating
• scheming
• shifty
• foxy
• flattering
• underhanded
• arch
• feigned
• unctuous
• strained
• forced
• double-dealing
• canny
• two-faced
• knavish
• sycophantic
• mealymouthed

real

2 of 2

adverb

as in very

to a great degree

this fish tastes real good

Synonyms & Similar Words

• very
• damn
• extremely
• damned
• incredibly
• terribly
• really
• too
• highly
• so
• badly
• that
• full
• seriously
• far
• much
• super
• such
• desperately
• most
• jolly
• especially
• severely
• mighty
• intensely
• good and
• particularly
• extra
• greatly
• way
• wildly
• specially
• awful
• heavily
• exceptionally
• absolutely
• wicked
• passing
• awfully
• deadly
• cracking
• fantastically
• roaring
• bone
• dang
• fiercely
• totally
• monstrous
• immensely
• exceedingly
• vitally
• sore
• supremely
• fabulously
• eminently
• a lot
• rattling
• almighty
• ever
• hugely
• thumping
• uncommonly
• frightfully
• beastly
• whacking
• remarkably
• completely
• achingly
• spanking
• utterly
• surpassingly
• enormously
• entirely
• corking
• thoroughly
• right
• sorely
• vastly
• deeply
• filthy
• positively
• mortally
• stinking
• majorly
• wholly
• roaringly
• purely
• blisteringly
• colossally
• archly
• significantly
• fully
• obviously
• as all get-out
• unco
• mightily
• downright
• considerably
• noticeably
• visibly
• flat-out
• profoundly
• substantially
• radically
• notably
• palpably
• extensively
• discernibly
• markedly
• plainly
• altogether
• appreciably
• amazingly
• abundantly
• plentifully
• monumentally
• astonishingly
• excessively
• overmuch
• astronomically
• obscenely
• staggeringly
• monstrously
• grandly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• little
• somewhat
• slightly
• nominally
• just
• negligibly
• hardly
• barely
• scarcely
• marginally
• minimally
• meagerly
• scantily

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of real

Adjective

The testing process utilized 11 distinct temperature rise and fall test platforms to simulate real operational conditions and verify system stability systematically. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026

Job hopping and wages One way to avoid real wage erosion is to switch jobs, according to the report, which found that job changers' wages rose nearly in line with inflation. — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Adverb

The success of the technology in one area of the economy could make the bubble real in another, more precisely. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026

The value of my executive coaching work felt real the first time a coaching session wrapped up without a happy ending. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing real

• for real
• real estate