DE FACTO Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

de facto

adjective

Definition of de facto

as in actual

existing in fact and not merely as a possibility with the death of his father, he became the de facto head of the family

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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 de facto Senior centers across the country function as de facto community centers. — Eliza Fawcett, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2023 But many supported the move and came to regard it as a de facto safe consumption site, a model that exists in cities around the world and in New York, where people can use drugs in a supervised setting. — Trisha Thadani, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2023 The 16 women who had challenged the status quo, most notably Nancy Hopkins, the reluctant de facto leader, were thrilled but eager to return to their roles as elite scientists. — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023 Pollard only lasted a handful of seasons, and in short order, the NFL erected its own de facto color barrier in 1933, thanks in large part to the efforts of George Preston Marshall, the then-Boston Redskins owner. — Robert Silverman, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for de facto

Recent Examples of Synonyms for de facto

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

Spot prices reflect real-time market trading and serve as a benchmark for futures contracts, ETFs and retail bullion pricing.

— USA TODAY, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Since the homemade icing on the cake is so sweet, and the real star of the show, my mom always opts for a lighter chocolate cake mix, like milk chocolate, instead of dark chocolate or fudge.

— Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 8 July 2026

Definition of real

Adjective

Award-winning factual producer Proper Content is set to shutter amid tough market conditions.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 2 July 2026
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

Definition of factual

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

Meneghetti invites guests to slow down, relax, be present in their surroundings, and experience something genuine and understated rather than staged—the very essence of Istria.

— Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
Becoming synonymous with the very idea of the dictionary wasn’t by any means a given for Webster.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026

Definition of very

Browse Nearby Words

defacing

de facto

defalcation

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“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of de facto

adjective

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