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
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
The Jets finished last in rushing attempts in a wholly miserable campaign.
—
Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 9 May 2026
But the filmmaker’s imagination transfigures personal history into something not of this world, wholly original, and uniquely demented.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Spector’s idea of pairing Jafa with Prince is novel at first, but wholly natural when seen together.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
In Saar’s world, items have always held their own energy, and in her hands that energy is transmuted into something wholly unique.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wholly
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Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 9 May 2026
But the filmmaker’s imagination transfigures personal history into something not of this world, wholly original, and uniquely demented.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Spector’s idea of pairing Jafa with Prince is novel at first, but wholly natural when seen together.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026
In Saar’s world, items have always held their own energy, and in her hands that energy is transmuted into something wholly unique.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wholly
Cite this Entry
“Wholly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wholly. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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