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

At the end of August, Russia launched a week of nighttime and daylight attacks on Kyiv in its heaviest sustained bombardment of the Ukrainian capital since its full-scale invasion began more than four years ago. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Vilnius, Lithuania's capital city, is less than 20 miles from the border with close Russian ally Belarus, which Vladimir Putin's forces used as a launchpad for their ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. — Aaron MacLean, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

In 2025, the United States joined Israel in bombing Iran, and in 2026 the United States and Israel launched a full-scale war with the initial objective of regime change in Tehran. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Sudan plunged into war in April 2023 when tensions between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, escalated into full-scale fighting across the country. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

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