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

• systematically
• fully

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

The Special Investigations Unit coordinated with transportation and booking staff to make sure that Molina-Caraballo was searched thoroughly upon his arrival from court. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 16 Oct. 2025

All of those impressive qualities are present in The Wayfinder, which is a thoroughly surprising and enjoyable read. —Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025

Building this confidence needs to be done intentionally, thoughtfully, and thoroughly. —Erik Roth, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025

Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 1 hour. —Derick Wade, Saveur, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above