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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Recent Examples of actually
Those who actually run elections, Republican and Democratic officials alike, have repeatedly affirmed that mail voting is safe, secure, and reliable.
—
Coalition, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
Curiously, data on where retirees actually move doesn’t show a massive migration to cheap states.
—Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
After a property owner applies for C-PACE lending, the Illinois Finance Authority is the one that actually issues bonds or notes through private lenders, according to Lindburg.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Additional highlights include a stand collar, a drawcord hood, and deep double pockets that actually keep your hands toasty.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for actually
Recent Examples of Synonyms for actually
Adverb
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Just every player on the team, honestly.—
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Oh, honestly, a little bit of both.—
Adverb
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So there's really no choice but for the four major conference commissioners to compile a set of rules and guidelines that make at least a marginal bit of sense.—
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So getting through that year was really difficult.—
Adverb
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There is absolutely no evidence that frauds of this type or anywhere near this scale are happening in any of the other four states, or frankly that there is a large volume of as-yet-undiscovered fraud in Minnesota itself.—
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All of that there is ripe for decades, frankly, of investigative journalism that’s happening from from our colleagues in the local media in Los Angeles.—
Adverb
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Start your very own love affair with Outcrease Retinol Trifecta Serum by grabbing a bottle today, and check out some of Dermelect’s other skin correcting serums and facial oils below.—
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She's seen that the wasteland is a very difficult place, full of suffering.—
Adverb
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The defensiveness disguises the admission that With Heaven on Top does indeed boast a robust production, one teeming with horns and backing vocals, all set to a big beat designed to echo throughout the stadiums Bryan now headlines.—
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Photos which have survived from the time indeed show Argentine players exuding a Latin glamour.—
Adverb
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Sales are truly rare here, so take advantage of discounts up to a whopping 70 percent off.—
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Lord Katsushige, the previous head of the Nabeshima domain, even encouraged the experience to truly understand how to be of service.—
Cite this Entry
“Actually.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/actually. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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