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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Recent Examples of actual
Whereas some actual insects use pheromones as biochemical markers (or stigmergic traces), the RAnts biomimicked version is photormones – light signals – to guide the actions of their collective.
—
New Atlas, 1 May 2026
The actual crew that follows the contestants was the actual people who film it, but that episode kept getting punted.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
But the proliferation of apps like Talkspace and Betterhelp, all admirably designed to combat the lack of mental health resources for many people, isn’t an actual medical practice.
—Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
The third full moon in a single season with four full moons is also sometimes referred to as a blue moon, though the actual color of the lunar disk remains normal for both definitions!
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for actual
New Atlas, 1 May 2026
The actual crew that follows the contestants was the actual people who film it, but that episode kept getting punted.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
But the proliferation of apps like Talkspace and Betterhelp, all admirably designed to combat the lack of mental health resources for many people, isn’t an actual medical practice.
—Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
The third full moon in a single season with four full moons is also sometimes referred to as a blue moon, though the actual color of the lunar disk remains normal for both definitions!
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for actual
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actual
Adjective
-
And scratched nonstick pans are a real concern for most home cooks.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The milquetoast nature of the statement — with its measured language and nonexistent call to action — and the broader absence of real accountability have nagged at me for weeks.—
Uzma Rentia,
STAT,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet neither approach had any factual basis, and any success either group had was likely due to the placebo effect—merely giving a patient special attention and the hope of a cure can be healing in itself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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Some complaints derive from the film brushing aside many of the late King of Pop’s controversies, while others criticize the factual problems of Michael’s life and career, including missing family members.—
Allison DeGrushe,
StyleCaster,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Moon moves through your 1st House of Identity, bringing focus back to what’s true for you.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
While that’s still true, some of these rising players are feeling the pain of fickle production, too.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Actual.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actual. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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