These days when I hear about these horrible incidents on the news I get the feeling that more and more young people are losing their ability to distinguish between real and virtual worlds.
Source: tatoeba (243784)
Virtual
/ˈvɜːt͡ʃʊəl/
Synonyms for "virtual" (89 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (18)
Adjective(6 words)
Noun(4 words)
book club onlinecomputational modelcomputer modeldigital copy
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (27)
Adjective(8 words)
digital lessondigital modifierdigital network modeldigital presencedigital societiesdigital spaceemulated designnearly
Noun(5 words)
digital study circledigital transformationsdry labhomeschool online community resourcelearning environment structure
Adverb(1 words)
more noncontact
Related words (44)
Adjective(16 words)
nonanimal educationnonphysical chemistrynonphysical eventonlineonline community membersonline grouponline marketplaceonline moduleonline teaching modelpracticalpracticallyremote instructionremote learningsimulated mechanismsimulation-drivensynthetic system architecture
Noun(12 words)
online communicationonline communityonline community libraryonline learning communityonline-communitypeer collaboration networkreading group onlinesimulation methodstudent simulationvideo conference toolvideo meetingvirtually online
Verb(1 words)
Preposition(1 words)
via video conference
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: accepted, almost, basic, between the lines, book club online.
- Sentence evidence is available for virtual, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wiktionary, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "virtual".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "virtual"
Keep "virtual" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "virtual" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "virtual", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "virtual" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
2 entriesdegree modifierdigital form
More specific
5 entriesalmost finishednearly identicalonline learningvirtual classroomvirtual reality
Collocations
6 entriesonline learningvirtual classroomvirtual learningvirtual libraryvirtual realityvirtual tour
Inflections
2 entriesmore virtualmost virtual
Derivations
3 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
2 translations across 1 languages.
Finnish
2 entries- näennäinen noun (that which is imitated or simulated rather than existing in fact or reality; an instance of this)
- virtuaalinen noun (that which is imitated or simulated rather than existing in fact or reality; an instance of this)
Sample sentences
31 total sentences available.
Tatoeba Project is our virtual home.
Source: tatoeba (515387)
There is a growing number of people who prefer a virtual life online than a real life offline.
Source: tatoeba (518094)
Virtual memory is a memory management technique developed for multitasking kernels.
Source: tatoeba (722650)
Showing 4 of 31 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "virtual"?
Closest matches include accepted, almost, basic, between the lines, book club online.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "virtual"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.