as in real
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility
the actual outcome of the election was quite different from what everybody had expected
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of actual
Litherland believes the pharaoh's actual mummy is buried in a second tomb.
—
Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2025
The actual facial steaming device, which is another pick approved by both Dr. Garshick and Dr. King, is made with sensitive skin types in mind.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025
In one recent study, Transamerica found that fewer than two-thirds of retirees have an actual retirement plan.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025
Those are the people who are actual corruption fighters within the departments and agencies.
—CBS News, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actual
Ars Technica, 28 Feb. 2025
The actual facial steaming device, which is another pick approved by both Dr. Garshick and Dr. King, is made with sensitive skin types in mind.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 28 Feb. 2025
In one recent study, Transamerica found that fewer than two-thirds of retirees have an actual retirement plan.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2025
Those are the people who are actual corruption fighters within the departments and agencies.
—CBS News, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for actual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actual
Adjective
-
Consider the real case of an elderly couple, both in their late 80s.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
-
The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent is a taut re-creation of a real event that took place during the Bosnian War, which has unfortunate parallels to our own trajectory.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Although the administration insists this will not be the case, there is no factual reason to believe that narrative as these cut moves are not about efficiency, safety or functionality.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
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When users encounter incomplete or misleading information, the model loses credibility—particularly in scenarios requiring factual accuracy, such as healthcare or legal advice.—
Praveen Thopalle,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This is true in any organization and is undoubtedly true when selecting members of the administration of the most powerful nation in the world.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2025
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But while Connecticut is largely forested, only about one-tenth of 1% of all forest land in the state is considered true old-growth forest.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actual. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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