in reality
• in actual fact (used to contrast a false idea of what is true or possible with one that is more accurate).
• "she had believed she could control these feelings, but in reality that was not so easy"
Similar:
in fact,
in actual fact,
in point of fact,
as a matter of fact,
actually,
really,
in truth,
if truth be told,
in practice,
in sooth,
