full-scale

adjective

ˈfu̇l-ˌskāl 

1

: identical to an original in proportion and size

full-scale drawing

2

a

: involving full use of available resources

a full-scale biography

full-scale war

b

: total, complete

A full-scale musical renaissance …

—Current Biography

Synonyms of full-scale

• thorough
• extensive
• comprehensive
• complete
• sweeping
• exhaustive

Examples of full-scale in a Sentence

a full-scale search and rescue for the victims of the rock slide

Recent Examples on the Web

Intelligence assessments from Western security agencies say Russia could be only a handful of years away from being able to launch a full-scale armed attack on a NATO state, most likely the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. —MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025

Crimea was fully annexed by Russia in 2014, and the Russian military has occupied most of Donetsk and Luhansk — collectively known as the Donbas — since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. —Justine Redman, CBS News, 21 Nov. 2025

Fareway, the fast-growing grocery store chain, has opened its first full-scale store in Kansas, just outside Wyandotte County. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 21 Nov. 2025

Three years and nine months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war grinds on. —Ian Bremmer, Time, 20 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for full-scale

• airmail
• assail
• avail
• bewail
• blackmail
• cattail
• cocktail
• curtail
• derail
• detail
• dovetail
• email

Kids Definition

full-scale

adjective

ˈfu̇l-ˈskā(ə)l

1

: identical to an original in size

2

: not limited in any way : using everything that can be used

a full-scale war