as in very
happening in the real world rather than in a story
real-life problems a real-life drama
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of real-life
In a wide-ranging interview with The Guardian, the actor talked about playing Leon Shermer in the 1975 film, which is based on the real-life story of John Wojtowicz.
—
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Her film credits include Escape Room (2019) and its 2021 sequel, as well as an appearance as real-life wrestler Gladys Gillem in the drama Queen of the Ring (2024).
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
Unlike, say, Daniel Day-Lewis or Gary Oldman, Johnson's not one for playing real-life characters.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
In a show full of oversized versions of real-life people, Alma Reville is surprisingly subtle, but also remarkably underdeveloped, especially given the talent of the actress cast to play her.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for real-life
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Her film credits include Escape Room (2019) and its 2021 sequel, as well as an appearance as real-life wrestler Gladys Gillem in the drama Queen of the Ring (2024).
—Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Oct. 2025
Unlike, say, Daniel Day-Lewis or Gary Oldman, Johnson's not one for playing real-life characters.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
In a show full of oversized versions of real-life people, Alma Reville is surprisingly subtle, but also remarkably underdeveloped, especially given the talent of the actress cast to play her.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for real-life
Recent Examples of Synonyms for real-life
Adjective
-
One of the night’s highlights came at the very end, after the band took their final bows, waved, and left the stage.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
30 Sep. 2025
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His digits, his body, his very skin remind him of Nazis, and of American troops posing with the corpses of Vietnamese victims.—
Rebecca van Laer
September 30,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Since some people recover from listeriosis without medical attention and never get tested, the CDC estimates that the actual number of people ill is probably substantially higher than reported, and that the outbreak may not be restricted to the states shown below.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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For a 2022 trip to Egypt for the COP27 conference, the budget accounted for $90,000 in airfare costs, but actual credit card expenses were at least $200,000.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The series’ first season, chronicling the crimes of Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, prompted a conversation about the exploitation of Black and disabled people’s stories for entertainment, while the season following the Menendez Brothers led to a real-world reconsidering of their guilt.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
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This new capability could redefine how drones operate in real-world missions, from military reconnaissance to fast-moving logistics.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Will his shooting and floater game give enough offensive jolt to add some real spacing around a roster that, even with Kevin Durant, seems notably deficient in terms of spacing?—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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Come for some of the best actresses of our time as power-hungry witches; stay for Stevie Nicks' cameo as a real one.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Tactically, the most notable feature of the final was how regularly the two goalkeepers found themselves in bizarre positions, rushing out to close down attackers in wide areas.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The largest came on the final play, as Texas couldn’t get back to the line of scrimmage in time to spike the ball and continue a possible game-tying drive.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As a remake of the original 2013 PS3 game, The Last of Us was rebuilt with better graphics while retaining an authentic experience.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
3 Oct. 2025
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Their mission is to preserve and enhance the ethos of the iconic American West by bringing these offerings to a broader audience in modern, authentic ways.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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When was the last time the Leafs had a bona fide, dependable third-line centre?—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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At the All-Star break, Crow-Armstrong looked like a bona fide Most Valuable Player candidate.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Real-life.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/real-life. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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