Forward　osmosis　(FO)　has　developed　rapidly　over　the　past　decade.　The　development　of　draw　solutes,　a　key　component　of　FO　processes,　has　also　progressed　remarkably.　A　wide　range　of　synthetic　draw　solutes　have　been　explored　in　recent　years.　Synthetic　draw　solutes　exhibit　superiority　over　the　conventional　draw　solutes　obtained　commercially　in　terms　of　lower　reverse　solute　fluxes　and　less　energy　consumption　in　draw　solute　recycling.　However,　there　are　still　some　big　challenges　for　synthetic　draw　solutes,　such　as　complicated　synthetic　procedures,　low　water　fluxes,　severe　concentration　polarization　(CP)　and　decreased　water　recovery　efficiency　when　recycled　draw　solutes　are　reused　in　FO.　These　challenges　are　also　the　current　research　focus　on　the　exploration　of　novel　draw　solutes.　This　article　aims　to　review　the　recent　progress　especially　on　synthetic　draw　solutes.　Their　design　strategies,　synthesis　routes　and　FO　performance　are　assessed.　Some　representative　applications　involving　the　synthetic　draw　solutes-facilitated　FO　processes　are　exemplified.　The　advantages　and　disadvantages　of　the　existing　synthetic　draw　solutions　are　evaluated.　The　challenges　and　future　directions　in　exploring　novel　draw　solutes　are　highlighted.　©　2018　Walter　de　Gruyter　GmbH,　Berlin/Boston　2018.