Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective authentic contrast with its synonyms?

The words bona fide and genuine are common synonyms of authentic. While all three words mean "being actually and exactly what is claimed," authentic implies being fully trustworthy as according with fact; it can also stress painstaking or faithful imitation of an original.

an authentic account of the perilous journey
an authentic reproduction
authentic Vietnamese cuisine

When can bona fide be used instead of authentic?

The words bona fide and authentic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bona fide implies good faith and sincerity of intention.

a bona fide offer for the stock

Where would genuine be a reasonable alternative to authentic?

The words genuine and authentic can be used in similar contexts, but genuine implies actual character not counterfeited, imitated, or adulterated; it also connotes definite origin from a source.

genuine piety
genuine maple syrup
a genuine Mark Twain autograph

Examples Sentences

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 authentic Savor an authentic Sunday roast complete with Yorkshire puddings at The Royal Oak. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2025 New to this year’s Fan Zone is the opportunity to bid on authentic Chiefs items autographed by many of the team’s superstars. The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2025 The authentic Irish feel Nora Mac is actually the name of owner Denis McDonagh’s grandmother. Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 9 Jan. 2025 Through its patented fabric technology and innovative post-weave colorization, Lab Denim is able to preserve the authentic look, feel, and durability of conventional denim while drastically reducing environmental impact. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for authentic 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for authentic
Adjective
  • Birmingham, Alabama, home with a sense of genuine, collected warmth.
    Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Will Trump exclusively select jurists who have flawless judicial records, are genuine full-spectrum conservatives, demonstrate an eagerness to overrule bad precedent, and have a conservative spouse and attend a theologically conservative house of worship?
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Still, Republicans have said that even if that call was accurate, the C.I.A. failed in understanding other key events: how quickly the Afghan government could collapse, how Bashar al-Assad would flee Syria and how Hamas was preparing to attack Israel.
    Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2025
  • While some might have considered the project too niche, Kyle’s intuition about the product’s appeal seems to have been accurate, with even the X Games getting a taste of the product earlier this year.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Punching probably is a bit overrated, to be honest.
    Michael Cox, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025
  • The bottom line is that deciding whether to start a new business requires an honest assessment of your passion, dedication, and readiness for the journey ahead.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But the flip side is also true: Nothing would be more harmful than letting the Small Business Deduction disappear at the end of the year.
    John E. Kelly Jr., Baltimore Sun, 15 Jan. 2025
  • By staying true to her own experiences, her music naturally encourages others to embrace courage, authenticity, and a childlike sense of wonder—an organic process that defines the heart of her artistic contribution.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The real people who are in danger are those who are fearful of being deported.
    Brian Bennett, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025
  • The real scandal is not that violent rioters were charged on this occasion but that they were let off on so many other occasions.
    The Editors, National Review, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Musk indicated that the next launch could occur as soon as next month, though an exact date has not been set.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
  • This flexibility allows parents to craft the exact educational experience their child needs to succeed.
    Pam Tapley, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Future of Branded Content: Stop Renting Attention Social platforms give brands the chance to move beyond renting attention through traditional advertising to owning real connections through original programming.
    Jamie Gutfreund, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The limestone deposit that had yielded the Taung Child, as the original Australopithecus became known, also contained the remains of all sorts of other creatures, including baboons, turtles, and hyraxes.
    Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near authentic

Cite this Entry

“Authentic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/authentic. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on authentic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!