1
as in just
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference
we will meet at exactly six o'clock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in quite
to a full extent or degree
she listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in yes
used to express agreement
"Are you calling me a liar?" "Exactly."
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exactly
The Twin Hot Dog Platter arrives with French fries and coleslaw – simple, generous, exactly right.
—
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
This is, of course, exactly the logic that drove the CIA’s support for the Mujahideen Mujahedeen in Afghanistan and the arming of Syrian rebel factions – both of which produced consequences their architects failed to foresee.
—John Calabrese, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2026
That idea of replacement is exactly where Karadsheh says people should focus.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
What exactly is that otherworldly lead bridging into the song’s midpoint and bookending its call-and-response outro?
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exactly
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
This is, of course, exactly the logic that drove the CIA’s support for the Mujahideen Mujahedeen in Afghanistan and the arming of Syrian rebel factions – both of which produced consequences their architects failed to foresee.
—John Calabrese, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2026
That idea of replacement is exactly where Karadsheh says people should focus.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
What exactly is that otherworldly lead bridging into the song’s midpoint and bookending its call-and-response outro?
—Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
Adverb
-
Those are just some examples of how Chinese startups and tech giants are rapidly expanding worldwide, one year after DeepSeek’s AI reasoning model shocked global investors.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
-
As launch costs plummet, space is no longer just for observation but for massive infrastructure to address clean energy needs and much more.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
In the lab setting, various atmospheric variables can be precisely manipulated to closely understand the phenomenon.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Some aim to achieve deep penetration, others to saturate a large area with submunitions, and still others to precisely target, say, a corner of a building.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Peas, spinach, arugula, carrots, beets, kale, radishes, lettuce, and potatoes can be grown now and are easy to start from seed directly sown into the soil.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Vogue readers get a chance to shop the collection directly for 24 hours on Agolde first, today, March 6.—
Libby Page,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
One camp sticks strictly to the claim that Congress alone has the power to declare war.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2026
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Peeke is 27 and Murphy is 32, but that shouldn’t make much of a difference if the players are viewed in strictly rental terms.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
3 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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The service Despite the fact that the resort is, quite literally, removed from direct access to any major city, no special request seems too unrealistic or unreasonable.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
-
On the offensive line, five-star offensive tackle Keenyi Pepe — at 6-foot-7, 330 pounds — already looks quite capable of contributing on a Big Ten front.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The answer to your question is yes, add him.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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If the answer is yes, expect much of Hollywood to follow suit.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
5 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Expect unusual dishes like savory black and white cookies and celery root with black truffle right alongside classics like Lobster Newburg.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
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Facing Arizona State on Senior Night, nothing seemed to go right for the Jayhawks (Shop KU).—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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The sides and top of the bag are brown leather, which adds just enough contrast to pop against your outfit, and perfectly complements the bag’s gold chain and zipper.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Mar. 2026
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Prior to Wednesday’s game, Torey seemed to explain the feelings of the moment perfectly.—
Sahadev Sharma,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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