Definition of exactlynext
1
as in just
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference we will meet at exactly six o'clock

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2
3
as in directly
in the same words a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in strictly
without any relaxation of standards or precision follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of exactly Everly Capri Hough was born on December 29, 2025, almost exactly two years after Erbert's emergency surgery. Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026 That uneven rollout is exactly what creates confusion and gives scam texts an opening. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026 Tumi rarely goes on sale, which is exactly why this Rue La La event is worth shopping right now. Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026 How much public money is being sent to private companies, and in exchange for what exactly? Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
Adverb
  • The defendant had just delivered a box of Barbies to the family’s Wise County home — Barbies that Athena’s stepmother had ordered as a Christmas gift for the 7-year-old.
    Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The total construction area is just shy of 2,900 square feet — about the size of a standard tennis court.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • The technology allows interventional radiologists to more precisely treat patient’s medical conditions, potentially reducing their radiation exposure and the physical strain of standing over a patient for hours.
    Roni Robbins, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
  • That dynamic is precisely why gold has long been viewed as an inflation hedge.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • This surcharge will apply directly to sellers, not consumers.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
    NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Travelers to Thailand are being reminded that electronic cigarettes are strictly banned in the country — with violators facing steep fines or even prison time.
    Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Fragrance launches used to be a strictly celebrity venture in the early aughts—but in 2026, everyone is getting into the scent game.
    Sarah Hoffmann, Allure, 6 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Virtue isn’t quite like other hair care brands.
    Tory Johnson, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The Service’s regional headquarters will vanish, along with most of its research facilities and experimental forests—and also quite likely the sense of mission that has animated the agency for more than a century.
    Bill McKibben, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • To a trader, a lot of this looks familiar—essentially a yes-or-no bet on an outcome.
    byDoug Ashburn, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Denver City Council should vote yes.
    Michael Hancock, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
  • Ravensbergen is a rare southpaw as a right-catching goalie (coincidentally, as is Askarov).
    Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
  • As the national government moves sharply right, Democratic voters have shifted left.
    Darius Khalil Gordon, New York Daily News, 7 Apr. 2026
Adverb
  • Fashion On-Theme Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway perfectly match their fashion to the red, white, and black theme at the Devil Wears Prada 2 premiere in Seoul, South Korea on April 8.
    Katie Hill, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Their schemes to push Asian-American kids out of their dream schools for racial reasons would have been perfectly legal.
    Alison Somin, Oc Register, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.

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