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

Patients diagnosed with cancer are often advised to terminate their pregnancies without discussing the very real option of treating cancer during pregnancy. — Elyce Cardonick, STAT, 2 Nov. 2026

And given this wealth tax's novelty — and the Supreme Court's conservative majority — there's a real risk that at least part of Prop 40 could be struck down. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026

Adverb

If your team is any version of a Power Five power player, the playoff conversation gets real anticlimactic real quick. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 19 Oct. 2026

In what may count as the real biggest news out of this game, Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin left the game after a sack in the fourth quarter. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing real

• for real
• real estate