wholly

adverb

whol·​ly ˈhō(l)-lē How to pronounce wholly (audio)
Synonyms of whollynext
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The series blends adult humor, unforgettable characters, and catchy musical numbers to create a wholly original and unique world. Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026 If things play out like last year, the FY27 PBR will be wholly rejected by both political parties, who continue to largely view the United States' space program as an essential component to the country's global standing. Josh Dinner, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026 Shannon Felton Spence, former head of Politics and Communication at the British Consulate General of New England, told Fox News Digital that the primary focus is wholly on the state visit, one where every minute is accounted for. Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026 Now, that model has been secretly accessed via a wholly predictable vulnerability Anthropic didn’t think to patch. Robert Hart, The Verge, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wholly

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hoolly, from hool whole

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wholly was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wholly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wholly. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

wholly

adverb
whol·​ly ˈhōl-(l)ē How to pronounce wholly (audio)
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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