thoroughly

adverb

thor·​ough·​ly ˈthər-(ˌ)ō-lē 

 sometimes  ˈthȯr-;

ˈthə-(ˌ)rō-

: in a complete or thorough manner

Police thoroughly searched the crime scene for clues.

Bats are extremely tidy: they comb themselves thoroughly, and don't gather a mess of nesting materials for their homes, as birds do.

—Diane Ackerman

: to a complete or thorough extent

We were thoroughly satisfied with the service we received.

thoroughly disgusted/delighted

By taking all the tricks in the game, one defeats the opponent so thoroughly that he may be disconcerted …

—Craig M. Carver

Synonyms

• completely
• comprehensively
• detailedly
• exhaustively
• fully
• inside out
• minutely
• roundly
• sweepingly
• systematically
• through and through
• totally

Examples of thoroughly in a Sentence

they researched the issue thoroughly before deciding how to vote

I am thoroughly satisfied with her explanation of the events of that evening

Recent Examples on the Web

Before launching a new product or opening a new facility, thoroughly test the market to determine demand and pricing power. —Allbusiness, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

To stay safe, consider wearing gloves while chopping, or wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water afterward. —Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 May 2025

The pig is then placed on a spit and slow roasted for several hours, until the meat is thoroughly cooked and the skin outside becomes perfectly crispy and crackled. —Cat Sposato, AFAR Media, 15 May 2025

He was thoroughly dominated by Randle all series and walked out of Target Center saying these Wolves may not be done yet. —Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above