reality

noun

rē-ˈa-lə-tē How to pronounce reality (audio)
Definition of realitynext
1
as in case
something that actually exists the ambition to make his dreams a reality

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in existence
the fact of being or of being real no one denies the reality of electricity, though few people understand it fully

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fact
the quality of being actual the reality of the situation finally dawned on her and she sat down in stunned silence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in object
one that has a real and independent existence you'll need to cope with a whole new set of realities once you've become a parent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of reality These realities are familiar to healthcare professionals working in hospitals, clinics and behavioral health practices throughout Connecticut. — John R. Gordon, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026 While institutional incentives aren't wrong, portraying them solely as student benefits obscures a critical reality. — Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026 By early March, rates had soared dramatically higher, hitting unprecedented levels as the market adjusted to the reality that a large percentage of the global fleet was stuck inside the Persian Gulf. — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026 This, as much as any, may have been the moment when reality forked. — Bryce Covert, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reality
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reality
  1. case
  2. existence
  3. fact
  4. object
  5. truth
  6. entity
  7. substance
  8. thing
Noun
  • In another especially science-fictiony case, ticks’ very saliva can spark a severe allergy to such delights as ice cream and hamburgers.
    — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • What began as a low-level juvenile case became five years in secure custody as his behavior deteriorated and new charges accumulated.
    — Christina Buttons, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
Definition of case
Noun
  • San Jose has 18 regular-season games remaining to secure a playoff spot for the second time in the franchise’s three years of existence.
    — Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 5 July 2026
  • The fact that this would have to be an invisible and infinite material that doesn't interact with physical objects made the existence of the luminiferous ether highly controversial.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of existence
Noun
  • In the 19-page complaint, obtained by Rolling Stone, Morake argued that Jonasi had presented the translation as fact during a conversational podcast rather than as part of a stand-up routine.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2026
  • Basically, the fact that zinc did not always agree with carbon and nitrogen suggests that δ66Zn may be sensitive to ecological processes that are invisible to traditional tracers (offering a complementary lens rather than a replacement).
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of fact
Noun
  • Traveling such vast distances between our solar system's most remote objects means New Horizons often cruises for months at a time with little to do other than passively collect data.
    — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 8 July 2026
  • For example, a 2018 survey, cited in Pew’s report, found that 47% of Chinese adults believe in fengshui, where the positioning of objects or buildings in relation to one another can bring happiness and good fortune.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
Definition of object
Noun
  • Curator Nadine Hounkpatin, who organized the wider exhibition at Arles in which Phan’s images appear, has said that the body of work illustrates the kind of deeper truth-telling photography can do.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • The future of storytelling belongs to platforms rooted in truth, possibility, and community.
    — Daphne Bryson Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
Definition of truth
Noun
  • Thanks to House Bill 208, which passed in 2025, fire districts in Idaho can consolidate into a single entity to pool resources and work together to cover service areas that may be understaffed.
    — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 8 July 2026
  • Eagle Mountain Lake is a major water source for Tarrant County and the West Fork Public Utility Agency, supplying water to Fort Worth and other entities in Wise County, according to the city of Boyd.
    — Mary Ella Hastings July 8, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026
Definition of entity
Noun
  • Stevens also seemed to be an especially good character fit for Michigan, whose Democratic senators in the past four decades have tended to offer more substance than style.
    — Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 10 July 2026
  • For people coming out of shelters – especially those dealing with trauma, mental illness, or substance use disorder – that can make the difference between short-term housing and long-term stability.
    — Meg Dunn, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of substance
Noun
  • One of the most concerning things about the situation is that someone left such an explosive just lying around.
    — Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • But working and maintainable are not the same thing, which is where companies start making very expensive mistakes.
    — Oleg Lola, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of thing

Phrases Containing reality

Browse Nearby Words

realities
reality
realizable
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Cite this Entry

“Reality.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reality. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on reality

Nglish: Translation of reality for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about reality

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