Synonyms of exactly

exactly

adverb

ig-ˈzak-(t)lē 

1

as in just

as stated or indicated without the slightest difference

we will meet at exactly six o'clock

Synonyms & Similar Words

• just
• right
• precisely
• sharp
• squarely
• due
• on the nose
• full
• smack-dab
• on the button

2

as in precisely

in the same manner

he wants to be exactly like his father

Synonyms & Similar Words

• just
• precisely
• perfectly
• even
• to a T
• expressly
• uniformly
• identically
• similarly
• alike
• faultlessly
• likewise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• somewhat
• slightly
• vaguely
• differently
• variably

3

as in directly

in the same words

a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly

Synonyms & Similar Words

• directly
• accurately
• precisely
• verbatim
• word for word
• identically
• literally
• ad verbum

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• essentially
• basically
• virtually
• inexactly
• freely
• loosely
• carelessly
• inaccurately
• imprecisely

4

as in strictly

without any relaxation of standards or precision

follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strictly
• carefully
• precisely
• rigidly
• rigorously
• scrupulously
• conscientiously
• meticulously

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• loosely
• imprecisely
• inexactly

5

as in quite

to a full extent or degree

she listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway

Synonyms & Similar Words

• quite
• perfectly
• all
• fully
• totally
• completely
• even
• utterly
• well
• wholly
• entirely
• thoroughly
• fast
• absolutely
• entire
• out
• wide
• enough
• basically
• all the way
• for fair
• at length
• all over
• dead
• to pieces
• down to the ground
• altogether
• to bits
• in whole
• full
• flat
• soundly
• clean
• heartily
• all of
• through and through
• down the line
• to the hilt
• generally
• to the max
• mostly
• substantially
• categorically
• largely
• plumb
• plain
• mainly
• primarily
• downright
• cold
• principally
• unqualifiedly
• greatly
• predominantly
• chiefly
• more or less
• overall
• predominately
• by and large
• hands down
• stone
• generously
• abundantly
• stone-cold
• copiously

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• partly
• partially
• just
• halfway
• half
• hardly
• slightly
• barely
• scarcely
• approximately
• superficially
• roughly
• incompletely
• minimally
• somewhat
• marginally
• part
• kind of

6

as in yes

used to express agreement

"Are you calling me a liar?" "Exactly."

Synonyms & Similar Words

• yes
• OK
• alright
• yeah
• positively
• certainly
• absolutely
• all right
• undoubtedly
• yep
• yo
• unquestionably
• aye
• assuredly
• indeed
• indisputably
• okeydoke
• yea

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• no
• scarcely
• nay
• no way

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of exactly

No one outside China knows how exactly the country has managed to meet its energy needs while forgoing imports, nor why its leaders chose this course. — Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026

No two visitors' experiences of Dataland, which opened in June, are exactly alike. — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 29 July 2026

The key question is how, exactly, these wandering giants got so far from their galactic centers. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 29 July 2026

It is realized months—or years—later, when an employee faces one of life’s most challenging moments and knows exactly where to turn for support. — Orla Nixon, Fortune, 29 July 2026