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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 factual
Irrespective of factual accuracy, these online creators all play a leading role in shaping people’s understanding of health and medicine.
—
Alexa Lee, STAT, 27 Jan. 2026
Buried is commissioned by Jack Bootle, head of commissioning for specialist factual and Nick Andrews, head of commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
For decades, assessors across California have exercised reasonable and uniform judgment in applying it, guided by State Board of Equalization (BOE) advice, local building standards, and the factual circumstances of each rebuild.
—Jeffrey Prang, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
The Miami Heat identified them as having been stolen from their facility, the factual proffer said.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for factual
Alexa Lee, STAT, 27 Jan. 2026
Buried is commissioned by Jack Bootle, head of commissioning for specialist factual and Nick Andrews, head of commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Jan. 2026
For decades, assessors across California have exercised reasonable and uniform judgment in applying it, guided by State Board of Equalization (BOE) advice, local building standards, and the factual circumstances of each rebuild.
—Jeffrey Prang, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
The Miami Heat identified them as having been stolen from their facility, the factual proffer said.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for factual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for factual
Adjective
-
Picture real-time views of what individual players see from their perspective on the field or probability overlays showing the likelihood of different play outcomes based on formation, down, distance, and historical data.—
Jason Corso,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Responsiveness requires historical literacy, strategic coherence, clarity of purpose, and a public that understands the stakes.—
Carol L. Harris,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s no better time for a summer camp slasher to hit theaters than during actual summer.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
County leaders have contended their actual costs are $180 per day.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Under the directive, documentary proof of citizenship would be required to register to vote.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
And as much as the work of production designer Jack Fisk creates the sense of being whisked back to the New York of the 1950s, so too does Venditti’s documentary-style approach to casting help Marty Supreme feel like a cinematic time capsule.—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The singer slowly made his way down the stage, stopping by La Casita, popularized during the singer’s recent world tour, and even witnessed a couple’s real wedding.—
Itzel Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
His only real path to election is as the Sandy Koufax of the 21st century.—
Jayson Stark,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
As a small rural settlement is swiftly and ruthlessly stripped bare by the twin plagues of a diphtheria epidemic and spreading wildfires, the film eventually descends into a near-literal hellscape, though even when pandemonium takes over on screen, Van Dusen’s formal control never wavers.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Extracting water ice would provide the oxygen and hydrogen fuel necessary to turn the moon into a literal gas station for the solar system.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s true, even though the odds of getting hurt during travel are generally higher when driving.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Exercises like Aron’s 36 questions are designed to reveal the most interesting, truest things about a person, and self‑ disclosure, trust building, and mutual appreciation accelerate closeness.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Significant experiment The effort is part of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, a nonfictional experiment with detectors that will be immersed in huge baths of cryogenic liquid argon, which is going the opposite direction — down.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Jan. 2026
-
But what was more interesting to me are those who aren’t fantasizing about being in a fictional world, but who are fantasizing about being a different reader, in a more secure nonfictional world.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Factual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/factual. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
