comprehensive
adjective
com·pre·hen·sive
ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 
-prē-
1
: covering completely or broadly : inclusive
comprehensive examinations
comprehensive insurance
This is where that comprehensive review of your finances can come in handy.—
Kevin L. Matthews II
Kevin L. Matthews IIThe 2015 study was one of the first comprehensive research efforts to tally up how much plastic ends up in the ocean.—Delger Erdenesanaa
Delger Erdenesanaa2
: having or exhibiting wide mental grasp
comprehensive knowledge of a subject
comprehensively
adverb
comprehensiveness
noun
Examples of comprehensive in a Sentence
Natalie's every move was photographed, a documentation of a happy childhood as comprehensive as it was false.
—John Gregory Dunne, New York Review of Books, 15 Jan. 2004
Inevitably, though, in so comprehensive an account, some important events and themes are cursorily checked off …
—Isabel Fonseca, Times Literary Supplement, 29 Jan. 1993
Walcott proceeded to misinterpret these fossils in a comprehensive and thoroughly consistent manner …
—Stephen Jay Gould, Wonderful Life, 1989
a comprehensive overview of European history since the French Revolution
a comprehensive listing of all the paintings generally attributed to the Dutch artist Rembrandt
John Gregory Dunne, New York Review of Books, 15 Jan. 2004
Inevitably, though, in so comprehensive an account, some important events and themes are cursorily checked off …
—Isabel Fonseca, Times Literary Supplement, 29 Jan. 1993
Walcott proceeded to misinterpret these fossils in a comprehensive and thoroughly consistent manner …
—Stephen Jay Gould, Wonderful Life, 1989
a comprehensive overview of European history since the French Revolution
a comprehensive listing of all the paintings generally attributed to the Dutch artist Rembrandt
Recent Examples on the Web
In one of the most comprehensive reviews of voter registration by noncitizens, a federal judge found in 2018 that at most 39 noncitizens got on the voter rolls in Kansas over almost two decades.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
There’s also the Asiama gallery, a comprehensive repository of Lao history through its tribal textiles.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Our expert take The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
—Ryley Amond,jason Stauffer, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
Before being definitively plundered, the museum was home to the most comprehensive Nubian archaeological collection in the world.
—News Desk, Artforum, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for comprehensive
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Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 18 Mar. 2026
There’s also the Asiama gallery, a comprehensive repository of Lao history through its tribal textiles.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
Our expert take The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
—Ryley Amond,jason Stauffer, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
Before being definitively plundered, the museum was home to the most comprehensive Nubian archaeological collection in the world.
—News Desk, Artforum, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for comprehensive
Cite this Entry
“Comprehensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprehensive. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
comprehensive
adjective
com·pre·hen·sive
ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv
: including much or all : full
a comprehensive course of study
a comprehensive list
comprehensiveness
noun
Legal Definition
comprehensive
adjective
com·pre·hen·sive
ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen-siv
: covering completely or broadly
a comprehensive insurance policy
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