for all practical purposes

ADVERB

almost

Synonyms

STRONGEST

about approximately around essentially most much practically relatively roughly virtually

STRONG

nigh well-nigh

WEAK

about to all but as good as bordering on close to close upon for the greatest part in effect in the neighborhood of in the vicinity of just about near to not far from not quite on the brink of on the edge of on the point of on the verge of pretty near substantially within sight of

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The supermajority then scolded lower courts for failing to anticipate that Humphrey’s Executor had, for all practical purposes, been silently overruled.

From Slate • Dec. 4, 2025

“This is not an evidence-based report, and for all practical purposes, it should be junked at this point,” Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Assn. told the Washington Post.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2025

"It was not just compounded, but for all practical purposes rendered irremediable, by the erroneous entry on his admission record that he had had it," Ms Skinner said.

From BBC • Oct. 27, 2023

"We're fooling ourselves if we think that abandoning, for all practical purposes, semiconductor manufacturing, is a smart strategy for the United States," Yellen said.

From Reuters • Oct. 3, 2023

This number is infinitesimal—zero, for all practical purposes.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

for all practical purposes

Example Sentences

Related Words