“Real” does the job — but the right alternative does more. Here are 6 curated replacements, each with a definition, pronunciation, and an example of it working on the page.
Capable of being touched or perceived as real and concrete.
“The grief she carried was tangible, a weight pressing against her ribs with every breath.”
Best for: Works well in emotional or philosophical writing to ground abstract ideas.
Used to emphasize something is genuine or authentic in every sense.
“The old market was a veritable maze of colour, noise, and forgotten trades.”
Best for: Strong in descriptive prose when you want to amplify authenticity with flair.
Genuinely authentic, without deception or pretense.
“After years of hustle, she was finally a bona fide star.”
Best for: Punchy and slightly informal; great for journalism or sharp characterization.
Relating to a physical, bodily existence as opposed to something spiritual or abstract.
“He longed for something corporeal to hold onto in a world of shifting screens and signals.”
Best for: Best suited to literary or philosophical contexts exploring body versus spirit.
Coinciding with facts; truthful and accurate in representing reality.
“The witness gave a veridical account that no cross-examination could unravel.”
Best for: Favoured in philosophy and psychology; lends scholarly precision to any claim.
Having actual, independent existence rather than being merely conceptual.
“The philosopher argued that numbers were not subsistent entities but human inventions.”
Best for: Deeply rooted in ontological debate; ideal for dense literary or academic registers.
Wordsmith finds six curated alternatives for any word — free to try.
Try Wordsmith Free