Real
Real adjective - Being exactly as appears or as claimed.
Underlying and real are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Underlying" instead an adjective "Real".
Underlying
Underlying adjective - Of or relating to the simplest facts or theories of a subject.
Real and underlying are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Real" instead an adjective "Underlying".
Both words in one sentence
- The underlying motif throughout the Sherlockian works of both is a sense of realism with Holmes and Watson, fleshing out the characters as real people with real emotions.
Source: Signature Style -
Real Life Vodou is a religion like any other; what Hollywood has is The Theme Park Version of hoodoo, the underlying folk magic system thereof.
Source: Hollywood Voodoo -
I Love You Because I Can't Control You: very much the reason underlying Tsukasa's initial infatuation with Tsukushi when she clobbers him, and this developing into a real relationship later on.
Source: Manga / Hana Yori Dango
Cite this Source
Underlying and Real. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/real/underlying
Real & Underlying. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/real/underlying>.
Underlying or Real. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/real/underlying.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "real" and "underlying" have occurred on timeline