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
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
Marston approached composer Laura Rossi’s enthralling, cinematic score as a container rather than a blueprint, neither strictly following nor wholly ignoring it.
—
Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2024
Correction, October 18th: An earlier version of this story incorrectly suggested Judge Donato wholly lifted his November 1st deadline pending appeal.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2024
The remaining 25% of net protocol revenue is set to go to Axiom Management Group, or AMG, a Puerto Rico LLC wholly owned by Chase Herro and Zachary Folkman, two of the co-founders.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024
Her next film, 1971’s UFOs, was wholly computer generated, a stroboscopic firestorm of shifting forms accompanied by an unsettling score that at times recalled the sound of an infant banging on a xylophone or water rushing down a drain.
—News Desk, Artforum, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wholly 
Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2024
Correction, October 18th: An earlier version of this story incorrectly suggested Judge Donato wholly lifted his November 1st deadline pending appeal.
—Wes Davis, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2024
The remaining 25% of net protocol revenue is set to go to Axiom Management Group, or AMG, a Puerto Rico LLC wholly owned by Chase Herro and Zachary Folkman, two of the co-founders.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2024
Her next film, 1971’s UFOs, was wholly computer generated, a stroboscopic firestorm of shifting forms accompanied by an unsettling score that at times recalled the sound of an infant banging on a xylophone or water rushing down a drain.
—News Desk, Artforum, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wholly
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wholly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wholly
Cite this Entry
“Wholly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wholly. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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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