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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Example Sentences
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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
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Beyond functionality, however, the actual benefits of skin care in makeup are less effective.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
23 Jan. 2025
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Next, threat actors steal these credentials and use them to log in to the actual employee portal.—
Perry Carpenter,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The real people who are in danger are those who are fearful of being deported.—
Brian Bennett,
TIME,
22 Jan. 2025
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Meanwhile, the tampering accusation, which got the bulk of the headlines, feels like a distraction from the real issue.—
Stewart Mandel,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Yi had communicated with the baby’s mother the day before and on the same day that the infant ingested a deadly amount of the drug, according to a factual proffer in the case, the facts agreed on by the defense and prosecutors.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Jan. 2025
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The New York Times defended its reporting, stating it was based on thousands of original documents and adhered to journalistic standards, with no factual errors identified by Baldoni or his team.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Multigenerational families living together is very true to Latine culture in the United States and beyond.—
Zayda Rivera,
Parents,
27 Jan. 2025
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And if so, is that a price the WNBA is willing to pay to stay true to its values?—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Shortly after fans woke up to find billboards in New York City displaying a black-and-white photo of the star with her new album’s title and release date written in red toward the bottom, Gaga formally announced on Instagram that her new project is arriving at the very end of winter.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
27 Jan. 2025
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But the legal saga is far from over, as Baldwin filed a civil lawsuit against prosecutors and investigators of the very trial earlier this month that alleges malicious prosecution and defamation.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near de facto
Cite this Entry
“De facto.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/de%20facto. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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