wholly

adverb

whol·​ly ˈhō(l)-lē 

1

: to the full or entire extent : completely

a wholly owned subsidiary

2

: to the exclusion of other things : solely

a book dealing wholly with herbs

Synonyms of wholly

• completely
• fully
• totally
• utterly
• quite
• perfectly
• entirely
• all
• thoroughly
• even
• fast

Examples of wholly in a Sentence

She is wholly devoted to her children.

An infant is wholly dependent on its mother.

The claim is wholly without merit.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even if Josh Jacobs doesn’t come back any time soon, Lloyd is part of a wholly uninspiring committee backfield. — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Temasek and True Light Capital, an asset manager wholly owned by Temasek, joined as minority investors and Permira remained committed as a strategic minority shareholder. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

For once wholly earned and wholly revelatory, there comes a final snatch of voiceover, a dreamy echo back from the future that sets a seal on all these young lives, and then sets them free. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026

These disparate elements don’t wholly cohere, but the film still prods at ideas about maternal inheritance, feminine power, and community. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hoolly, from hool whole

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for wholly

• coaly
• coli
• foley
• folie
• goalie
• holy
• lowly
• moly
• slowly
• tolly
• acholi
• emboli

Kids Definition

wholly

adverb

whol·​ly ˈhōl-(l)ē 

1

: to the full or entire extent : completely

a wholly different view

2

: to the exclusion of other things : solely

a book devoted wholly to sports cars