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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Recent Examples of de facto
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
Another item in the package extends the de facto period of service for individuals serving on local boards and commissions beyond a looming February deadline and into April.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023
Previously, Disney had de facto control of the board as the district's largest landowner.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2023
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for de facto
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2023
Another item in the package extends the de facto period of service for individuals serving on local boards and commissions beyond a looming February deadline and into April.
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023
Previously, Disney had de facto control of the board as the district's largest landowner.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 10 Feb. 2023
The measure received unanimous support in the House and Senate and drew Taiwan’s de facto ambassador in the U.S., Hsiao Bi-khim, to both chambers Thursday.
—Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for de facto
Recent Examples of Synonyms for de facto
Adjective
-
But third secured a place in the 1995-96 UEFA Cup (now known as the Europa League), as only the actual champions went into the Champions League then.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
-
The preview doesn’t offer up much in terms of storyline — has the digital world of Tron invaded reality, with light cycles splitting actual police cars in half, or have graphics in the simulation improved mightily over the past decades?—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Following Hailey’s response to the content creator, fans praised the Rhode founder for giving real, relatable feedback.—
Dayna Haffenden,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Consistency is key: Heintzman recommends dry brushing at least once a week to get real results.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But the most glaring factual error is the below, which says the Houthis killed three Americans last January.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2025
-
The information foreign agents provided to Marshall and the statements made by the senator on Thursday were factual.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That versatility is, in a lot of ways, the true beauty of unicorns.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
28 Mar. 2025
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The same is true for picking up concertgoers after the show.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The very premise of the production is a gimmick, a way to let an actor show off and dazzle the audience with some tricks.—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
-
As he's proven in his current role as the very bro-y brother on White Lotus — not to mention his Kennedy family lineage — Patrick Schwarzenegger definitely has the chops to pull it off.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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