1
as in honestly
to tell the truth
actually, I'd rather spend the evening at home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in really
in actual fact
I call her Aunt Emily, but she is actually my cousin, not my aunt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of actually
Newman won the satirical Ig Nobel Prize, in 2024, for demonstrating that many of the world’s oldest living people may actually be dead.
—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Leaders should regularly reassess roles and training programs to ensure responsibilities reflect how decisions are actually made today.
—
Brittany Caskey,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
The trimmer line, typically a nylon string, is the part of your string trimmer that actually cuts vegetation, explains Steve Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
29 June 2026
A couple years later, Netflix won a $12 million arbitration ruling against Rinsch after the filmmaker claimed that the company actually owed him $14 million.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for actually
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
Leaders should regularly reassess roles and training programs to ensure responsibilities reflect how decisions are actually made today.
—
Brittany Caskey,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
The trimmer line, typically a nylon string, is the part of your string trimmer that actually cuts vegetation, explains Steve Corcoran, CEO of Lawn Love.
—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
29 June 2026
A couple years later, Netflix won a $12 million arbitration ruling against Rinsch after the filmmaker claimed that the company actually owed him $14 million.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
29 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for actually
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actually
Adverb
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Professionals who communicate honestly, understand emotions, recognize their unique value, and consistently earn trust will thrive.
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Budget honestly for a setup that typically runs $500 to $2,000 before recurring feed and bedding costs.
Adverb
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This conversation happens right before the crew takes the guests on what looks like a really cool oyster farm tour.
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Tried and tested professionals to really help maintain a high standard.
Adverb
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Open walls always beat closed clubs and quite frankly, are a lot more fun.
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That takes a great deal of knowledge, patience, and faith, frankly, to push through the challenges.
Adverb
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Despite consuming mass quantities of high-calorie foods during competition season, most professional competitive eaters are very lean.
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Music icon Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelce, who announced their engagement in August 2025, are anticipated to tie the knot very soon.
Adverb
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After having watched a few replays, Claus, indeed, showed Balogun a red card.
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Sauced is indeed coming back, this time in a much larger space.
Adverb
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When this place is eventually gone — a phrase that feels truly bizarre given the environment this summer and the half-century preceding it — the lasting images will be the seas of red.
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The truly remarkable thing about this country is its ingenious ability—through elections, immigration, freedom of speech, and economic mobility—to constantly remake itself.
Cite this Entry
“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actually. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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