thor·ough
ˈthər-(ˌ)ō 
sometimes ˈthȯr-;
ˈthə-(ˌ)rō
1
: carried through to completion : exhaustive
a thorough search
2
a
: marked by full detail
a thorough description
b
: careful about detail : painstaking
a thorough scholar
c
: complete in all respects
thorough pleasure
d
: having full mastery (as of an art)
a thorough musician
thoroughness
noun
archaic
: through
Examples of thorough in a Sentence
Adjective
… one realized that it was the restaurant's thorough and even comic Frenchness that had made it so entirely New York.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2004
Bruce tells me to squat down and Koani sidles up, ears flattened, tail tucked away, and gives my face a thorough licking.
—Nicholas Evans, Daily Telegraph, 26 Sept. 1998
The job was uncharacteristically thorough for a Russian contract killing—three different types of bullets riddled Mikho's body.
—New Republic, 15 Dec. 1997
a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations
The investigator will have to be thorough.
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2004
Bruce tells me to squat down and Koani sidles up, ears flattened, tail tucked away, and gives my face a thorough licking.
—Nicholas Evans, Daily Telegraph, 26 Sept. 1998
The job was uncharacteristically thorough for a Russian contract killing—three different types of bullets riddled Mikho's body.
—New Republic, 15 Dec. 1997
a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations
The investigator will have to be thorough.
Recent Examples on the Web
True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Some of the siblings of the deceased have also been unrelenting in demanding a thorough investigation into Tee'Andrick's murder.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Bloodwork should be repeated as well as a thorough neurological evaluation.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
The next police chief for Fort Worth should possess a combination of strong leadership skills, integrity, excellent communication skills, community orientation, and a thorough understanding of current law enforcement strategies and techniques.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorough
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Adjective
The application process includes a thorough review of your credit score, income level, employment history, and debt-to-income ratio.
—True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Some of the siblings of the deceased have also been unrelenting in demanding a thorough investigation into Tee'Andrick's murder.
—Chris Spargo, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Bloodwork should be repeated as well as a thorough neurological evaluation.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
The next police chief for Fort Worth should possess a combination of strong leadership skills, integrity, excellent communication skills, community orientation, and a thorough understanding of current law enforcement strategies and techniques.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for thorough
Cite this Entry
“Thorough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorough. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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