factual

adjective

ˈfak-chə-wəl How to pronounce factual (audio)
Definition of factualnext
1
as in historical
restricted to or based on fact a factual biography of George Washington that scoffs at the story about the cherry tree

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in actual
existing in fact and not merely as a possibility a serious scientist, she is only interested in factual phenomena and lets others speculate about the hypothetical

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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 factual Sotomayor, writing for the liberal justices, accused the majority of cutting the litigation short and argued that unresolved factual questions should have been returned to the lower courts. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026 Photographs, video footage, witness contact information and vehicle data can also contribute to the factual record surrounding a collision. — Matthew Kayser, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026 The prior Minnesota Anti-SLAPP law required that the court make certain pre-trial factual findings which was held to violate the right to a jury trial. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026 But the scope of AI creators’ inquiry is expanding beyond the humanities and human philosophizing to deeper spiritual questions of what differentiates wisdom from intelligence or factual knowledge from how character is molded. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for factual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for factual
  1. historical
  2. actual
  3. documentary
  4. real
  5. literal
  6. true
  7. nonfictional
Adjective
  • The calendar includes America's Block Party events, festivals, historical programs, exhibits and community gatherings scheduled across the country.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • This was a historical diagnosis for deaths attributed to old age in the early 1900s.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of historical
Adjective
  • Countrywide, wine, beer, spirits and other newer forms of alcohol are categorized according to beverage type and are taxed often regardless of actual alcohol content or other states’ policies.
    — Adam Hoffer, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • This anxiety often leads to rumination, where individuals endlessly ponder potential outcomes without actual preparation, mistakenly equating thinking with problem-solving.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of actual
Adjective
  • That judge later barred the Secretary of Defense from requiring documentary proof of citizenship when military personnel register to vote or request ballots.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
  • Paul Dugdale directed, with documentary segments from Farah X, and Live Nation Studios produced.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Definition of documentary
Adjective
  • But the real irony is that the British have teamed up with the Indigenous Seneca population, who loathe the French.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 July 2026
  • All her friends and family have tried to convince her this is not a real situation and she is being scammed.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026
Definition of real
Adjective
  • Sharks sit at the top of this literal chain reaction, integrators of everything below them in their predator role, accumulating what the system carries.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • For the Dar al Funoon, its inviting nature is communicated through form instead of literal transparency.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
Definition of literal
Adjective
  • This underscores how Apple's control over its devices, from hardware to software, limits true ownership and poses challenges for long-term digital preservation.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • If religion is corrupted by breaking down the wall of separation, much the same is true of the state.
    — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • Pee-Wee as Himself, the 2025 Emmy award winner for best documentary or nonfictional special, is also among the nominees.
    — Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
  • That delirious excess befits the essence of Lapid’s method, which is a fusion of fiction with indigestibly and irreducibly nonfictional elements.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of nonfictional

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facts
factual
factuality
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Cite this Entry

“Factual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/factual. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of factual for Spanish Speakers

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