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 real test for humanoid robots’ capabilities will necessarily take place in the real world beyond the demonstrations at the World Humanoid Robot Games. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2026

Owned by two-time Olympic Medalist downhill skier Andrew Weibrecht and family, those medals behind the front desk are real. — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Adverb

The sight of Anne Hathaway dressed in a denim co-ord and blasting a bloodthirsty Allosaurus in the face with a shotgun fixes that absence real fast. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 12 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