15 Other Ways to Say LITERALLY | Literally Synonyms (Examples)

During conversations, people often use the word literally to stress that something really happened. Sometimes, using other words can make your speech or writing more interesting. Words like exactly, truly, and actually can replace it in certain situations. In this article, we will explore 15 synonyms of literally with examples for better understanding.

Synonym	Example
Exactly	I exactly finished my homework at 6 PM.
Truly	She truly believes in helping others.
Actually	I actually saw him at the store yesterday.
Really	This cake is really delicious.
Precisely	The answer is precisely what I expected.
Verbatim	He repeated the speech verbatim.
Directly	Go directly to the source for information.
Undoubtedly	He is undoubtedly the best player on the team.
Absolutely	I am absolutely sure about my decision.
Literally speaking	Literally speaking, the car is brand new.
Factually	The story is factually correct.
Authentically	She acted authentically in the play.
Clearly	I can clearly see the mistake.
Positively	I am positively certain this will work.
In reality	In reality, the task was much harder than expected.

15 Different Ways to Say LITERALLY: Another Word for Literally

Exactly

The word exactly is a strong synonym for literally because it shows that something is completely accurate. You can use it when you want to confirm that information or actions match perfectly. It is useful in both casual and formal conversations. Using exactly makes your sentences more precise and confident.

I finished the test exactly on time.
She is exactly like her mother.
This is exactly what I needed.
He followed the instructions exactly as written.

Truly

Truly works well when you want to show honesty or real feelings. It emphasizes that your statement is sincere or factual. It is often used in emotional or serious contexts to stress authenticity. Using truly can make your words sound more meaningful and trustworthy.

I truly care about your happiness.
She truly loves reading books.
They are truly amazing friends.
He truly wants to help the community.

Actually

Actually is a common alternative to literally when clarifying facts or reality. It shows that what you are saying really happened or is correct. Use actually when correcting misunderstandings or giving true information. It helps to avoid exaggeration and shows accuracy.

I actually met her at the cafe.
This movie is actually very interesting.
He actually knows how to play the piano.
We actually completed the project early.

Really

The word really adds emphasis to your sentence, similar to literally. It shows that something is true or significant. Really can be used in both informal and formal speech. It helps express feelings, actions, or facts more strongly without exaggerating.

This pizza is really good.
I really enjoyed the concert last night.
She really worked hard on the project.
They really need our support.

Precisely

Precisely is excellent when you want to show accuracy or detail. It is a strong replacement for literally in formal or technical contexts. Using precisely communicates that your information or action is exact and without mistakes.

The answer is precisely correct.
He arrived at precisely 7 PM.
Follow the steps precisely to avoid errors.
I know precisely what she wants.

Verbatim

Verbatim is used when repeating words exactly as they were spoken or written. It is very similar to literally when accuracy matters. This word is useful in reports, quotes, or instructions where exact wording is important.

He copied the instructions verbatim.
She repeated the poem verbatim.
The witness spoke verbatim in court.
I want the message written verbatim.

Directly

The word directly can replace literally when pointing out an exact path, action, or meaning. It shows no delay, no distance, and no misunderstanding. Use directly to indicate that something is straightforward or immediate.

Go directly to the manager.
The arrow points directly at the target.
She looked at me directly in the eyes.
You should respond directly to the email.

Undoubtedly

Undoubtedly is great for emphasizing certainty. Like literally, it shows that there is no doubt about what you are saying. It is strong in formal writing, speeches, or when expressing confidence in facts or opinions.

He is undoubtedly the best singer.
This is undoubtedly true.
She will undoubtedly succeed.
That was undoubtedly an amazing performance.

Absolutely

Absolutely is powerful for showing total certainty or truth. It can replace literally when emphasizing strong agreement or fact. Use absolutely to make statements more forceful and confident.

I am absolutely sure about this.
She is absolutely right.
This is absolutely necessary.
They are absolutely happy with the results.

Literally Speaking

Literally speaking is a phrase that can be used instead of literally to make your statements exact. It is often helpful in writing or formal contexts where you want to stress reality. It clearly separates fact from exaggeration.

Literally speaking, the book is brand new.
Literally speaking, he ran five miles today.
Literally speaking, the answer is correct.
Literally speaking, the room is empty.

Factually

Factually emphasizes truth based on facts. Like literally, it shows that your statement is real and not exaggerated. It is useful in reports, articles, and debates where accuracy is important.

The report is factually correct.
Factually, the event happened last week.
His claims are factually supported.
Factually, this is the right choice.

Authentically

Authentically shows that something is real and genuine. It works as a synonym for literally when you want to highlight honesty or originality. This word is useful in describing actions, emotions, or creations.

She acted authentically in the play.
The food tastes authentically Italian.
He lives authentically every day.
This painting is authentically from the 19th century.

Clearly

Clearly emphasizes that something is obvious or easy to see. It can replace literally when you want to stress that something is real and visible or understandable. Use it to show evidence or facts strongly.

I can clearly see the mistake.
She explained the plan clearly.
It is clearly written in the instructions.
The sky is clearly blue today.

Positively

Positively is used to show certainty or truth. Like literally, it strengthens your sentence and expresses strong confidence. Use it in conversations or writing to show firm belief in a statement.

I am positively sure about my answer.
He is positively the best candidate.
The results are positively accurate.
She is positively happy with the decision.

In reality

In reality can replace literally when clarifying the true situation. It shows what is actually happening or what is true, especially when there is a misunderstanding or exaggeration.

In reality, the job was very hard.
In reality, he is very kind.
In reality, the situation is different.
In reality, they finished early.

Final Thoughts

Using different words instead of literally makes your sentences stronger and more interesting. Words like exactly, truly, and actually help show accuracy and truth. Practice these synonyms to make your speech or writing more expressive and confident.