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

But how? Here’s a start: • Consider everything, but consider it thoroughly. —Drew Gerber, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

Martinez spoke thoroughly on the topic of not being a helicopter parent, rather guiding children to their own results. —Morgan Kromer, The Washington Examiner, 20 June 2025

Submerge charcoal in water until it's thoroughly cooled. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2025

By the time an individual operating a restaurant or bar receives a liquor license, Cunningham said, the person is thoroughly vetted before the City Council votes to approve or reject the application. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above