veritable
True to fact
Veritable means genuine or actual, used for emphasis when something deserves a strong label: The garage sale was a veritable treasure trove.
The word typically precedes metaphors or hyperbole, signaling that the comparison, while figurative, truly fits: a veritable army of volunteers, a veritable feast.
It adds dramatic weight without claiming literal truth.
Truly what it claims
- authenticVerified as original
- bona fideAuthentic and sincere
- realTruly existing, not fake
- trueAccurate or loyal
actual · legitimate · certifiable · bonafide · honest-to-goodness · sure-enough · unfeigned · sincere
Expressed with force
- unmistakableImpossible to misidentify
- undeniableImpossible to contradict
- outrightComplete and unqualified
- sheerAbsolute; also diaphanous
utter · absolute · complete · total · thorough · downright · positive · pronounced
Existing in effect, not fact
- tantamountEqual in significance
- equivalentSame in value or function
- comparableAble to be likened
- practicallyAlmost but not quite
effectively · essentially · nearly · approximating · akin · analogous · parallel · synonymous
genuine
Truly what it claims
true · actual · legitimate · certifiable · bonafide · honest-to-goodness · sure-enough · unfeigned · sincere · indubitable
emphatic
Expressed with force
- unmistakableImpossible to misidentify
- undeniableImpossible to contradict
- outrightComplete and unqualified
sheer · utter · absolute · complete · total · thorough · downright · positive · pronounced · decided
virtual
Existing in effect, not fact
- tantamountEqual in significance
- equivalentSame in value or function
- comparableAble to be likened
practically · effectively · essentially · nearly · approximating · akin · analogous · parallel · synonymous · interchangeable
- authenticgenuine, real, true, bona fide, legitimate
veritablefake
Not the real thing
false · counterfeit · sham · spurious · phony
veritablefigurative
Representing through imagery
metaphorical · nominal · ostensible · supposed · apparent
veritableatypical
Not conforming to type
untypical · unrepresentative · anomalous · aberrant · uncharacteristic