1
as in just
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference we will meet at exactly six o'clock

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Relevance
2
3
as in directly
in the same words a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in strictly
without any relaxation of standards or precision follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exactly That’s exactly what has everyone excited about the latest protein trend: clear protein. Audrey Noble, Vogue, 27 June 2025 That real-world experience with diverse hair types is exactly what makes Hairitage stand out. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 27 June 2025 Still, several questions remain not fully answered, particularly how far exactly the strikes set back Iran's nuclear capabilities and whether Iran was able to move uranium away from the Fordo site before the bombings. Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 26 June 2025 That’s exactly the transformation Ashley Berges invites you to explore. Jason Phillips, USA Today, 15 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
Adverb
  • Either way, there’s no wrong answer—just the one that suits your next adventure best.
    Jill Schildhouse, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The plea comes just weeks before Kohberger's trial was set to begin.
    Kayna Whitworth, ABC News, 1 July 2025
Adverb
  • And to date, the Republican majority, which has subpoena power, which has the ability to move bills to the floor, which has the ability to hold administration officials in contempt, has shown precisely zero interest in doing that.
    Michel Martin, NPR, 24 June 2025
  • Yet the lifespans of Europeans and Americans lengthened in the nineteenth century precisely because swaths of prairie were planted with wheat and hundreds of millions of cattle, pigs, and poultry could be killed for meat in industrial facilities.
    Michael Albertus, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Adverb
  • The Department of Homeland Security, which includes ICE, did not respond directly to a question from The Associated Press regarding its plans for Abrego Garcia.
    BEN FINLEY, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2025
  • Informing Simpson of specific issues raised to him by farmers and growers in the area, Commissioner Kirby Smith asked directly how to curb unwanted development.
    James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
Adverb
  • The prospect of trying to cut open a stubborn 5-4-1 block in the Orlando heat could have become torturous quite quickly.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 June 2025
  • Spielberg introduced a behind-the-scenes clip that didn’t quite confirm an alien theme, though plenty of menacing figures in unmarked black cars were seen chasing Blunt (who appeared in several scenes as an everywoman in a rural area).
    Matt Donnelly, Variety, 27 June 2025
Adverb
  • Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. laced a two-out single to right in the second for the first hit off Burns in the big leagues.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 24 June 2025
  • Brian Burns made his New York debut and felt right at home.
    Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Adverb
  • This adaptation aligns perfectly with our mission to bring underrepresented perspectives to the screen through bold, engaging, and entertaining stories.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 June 2025
  • Not a superstar but, like Happ in LF, perfectly sufficient and acceptable at first.
    Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Adverb
  • But, O’Connor says, the more expensive dummy far more accurately reflects the anatomical differences between the sexes — including in the shape of the neck, collarbone, pelvis, and legs, which one NHTSA study found account for about 80% more injuries by women in a car crash compared to men.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 23 June 2025
  • This means the study group was carefully filtered and may not accurately reflect the broader, more medically complex cancer patient population.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 June 2025
Adverb
  • Those who were in the shelter are all safe and well.
    Ruth Marks Eglash, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2025
  • That’s what The News is all about and what Sommerfeldt is doing in questioning and writing about Adams, on behalf of our readers in print and on the web.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 22 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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