When you hunt for a truly synonym, start with what the adverb is doing. In I am truly sorry it shows feeling, so sincerely or genuinely fit. In a truly huge crowd it boosts size, so extremely or remarkably fit. In is she truly the owner? it checks a fact, so really or actually fit.
The groups, swaps and tips below follow those three jobs, plus the letter closing yours truly. Close neighbors have their own pages: really synonyms and sincerely synonyms.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
genuinely, sincerely, really, actually, indeedPart of speech
Adverb (from the adjective true)Most formal
indeed, veritably, in truthMost casual
for real, honestly, seriouslyStrongest feeling
wholeheartedly, from the bottom of my heartAntonyms
falsely, insincerely, barelyWatch out
Spelling: truly has no e. Truely is a very common typo.
Three jobs of truly, with a truly synonym for each
| Job | Swap | Before and after |
|---|---|---|
| Showing honest feeling | sincerely, genuinely, deeply | I am truly grateful becomes I am deeply grateful. |
| Confirming a fact | really, actually, in fact | Is it truly free? becomes is it actually free? |
| Raising intensity | extremely, remarkably, utterly | A truly cold night becomes a bitterly cold night. |
| Removing doubt | definitely, undoubtedly | She is truly the best candidate becomes she is undoubtedly the best candidate. |
| Exact, faithful | accurately, faithfully | The film truly shows the era becomes the film faithfully shows the era. |
Notice that some adjectives have a natural partner: bitterly cold, deeply moved, utterly exhausted. Those pairs sound more fluent than a general booster.
For real to sincerely: tone in one strip
Left to right, these chips travel from slang toward ceremony. For real belongs in speech and texts. Really is everyday and plain. Honestly adds a personal, confiding note. Genuinely is the strongest neutral option and works in most emails. Sincerely carries the formality of letters and speeches.
If you would never say the word out loud to that reader, pick one a step to the left.
Thank-you notes, apologies and sign-offs
Truly appears most in polite writing, where it can sound stiff if repeated. A few options:
- Truly sorry for the delay becomes sincerely sorry for the delay or very sorry for the delay.
- Truly appreciate your help becomes genuinely appreciate your help.
- Truly honored to accept becomes deeply honored to accept.
Yours truly is a classic letter closing. Modern swaps include Sincerely, Best regards, Kind regards or simply Thanks. In casual speech, yours truly also means me, as in yours truly made dinner, which works only as a joke.
A volunteer writes to a donor: "We are truly thankful, truly moved and truly excited." A quick rewrite holds on to that warmth minus the echo: "We are deeply thankful and genuinely excited about what your gift makes possible."
Weak spots and false friends
Truthfully is not the same as truly. It means telling the truth: answer truthfully. Literally should mean not figuratively, and many readers object when it is used only for emphasis. Totally is casual and can sound juvenile in a formal note. And very is weaker; see very synonyms for stronger boosters.
In essays, cut truly when it adds nothing. A truly important finding is simply an important finding, or better, a major one.
Opposites and contrast words
As an adverb of feeling, truly is the opposite of insincerely or falsely. As a booster, its opposite is a softener such as barely, hardly or slightly.
- He apologized insincerely, eyes on his phone.
- The paint was barely dry when the guests came in.
Emphasis words of every flavor gather under transition and linking words, or read genuine synonyms for the adjective.
Truly in spoken English
In conversation, people often swap truly for a phrase. I mean it, no kidding and I am not joking all confirm sincerity. Seriously works as both booster and question: seriously, it is that good. Phrases like from the heart and with all my heart suit toasts and cards.
Keep these for talk and messages. In a report, a single adverb such as genuinely or indeed is cleaner.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a dressier word than truly?
Sincerely and indeed are more formal. Veritably and in truth are older and sound literary.
Can I use genuinely instead of truly?
Yes, in most sentences about feelings or quality. Genuinely sounds slightly more modern and less like a greeting card.
What can replace yours truly in an email?
Best regards, Kind regards or Sincerely are safe for work. Thanks or Cheers suit friends and close colleagues.
How do you say truly sorry in another way?
Try sincerely sorry, deeply sorry or I really apologize. For a formal message, please accept my sincere apologies works well.
Is truly the same as really?
Close, but truly sounds warmer and a little more formal. Really is everyday speech, and it is better for questions such as did that really happen.
Which adverb is the reverse of truly?
Falsely or insincerely, when you talk about honesty. When truly is a booster, the reverse is a softener like barely or slightly.