1
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions
had total power over the people of that country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in entire
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it
gave us a total rundown of the events
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thorough
trying all possibilities
this was total war as far as the military was concerned, and no weapons system was off-limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sum
a complete amount of something
that's the total for our wheat harvest this year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to number
to have a total of
two and two total four
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to add
to combine (numbers) into a single sum
total all the receipts and tell me how much I owe you
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
a powerful hurricane totaled the house some years ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of total
Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026
The museum will also eliminate another twenty-three positions that are currently vacant, bringing the total percentage of positions cut to roughly 10 percent.
—News Desk, Artforum, 29 Jan. 2026
Chase Jordan
january 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
In testing on human teeth that were artificially stained with tea and coffee, the researchers found that a total of four hours of brushing showed visible whitening, while 12 total hours of brushing led to teeth that were nearly 50% whiter than those in a control group.
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Through the New8 deal, eight original series have been greenlit every year, totalling a whopping 24-title catalogue so far.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for total
Adjective
The billions of dollars of oil sent to Cuba from socialist ally Venezuela saved the island’s economy from total collapse following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026
The museum will also eliminate another twenty-three positions that are currently vacant, bringing the total percentage of positions cut to roughly 10 percent.
—News Desk, Artforum, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
In total, that’s a total of 3,081 disruptions from Saturday through Monday at the airport where American Airlines accounts for 90% of flights.
—Chase Jordan
january 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
In testing on human teeth that were artificially stained with tea and coffee, the researchers found that a total of four hours of brushing showed visible whitening, while 12 total hours of brushing led to teeth that were nearly 50% whiter than those in a control group.
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Western Union records show Villanueva sent 12 payments totaling $1,615 to overseas intermediaries over a five-month period.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Through the New8 deal, eight original series have been greenlit every year, totalling a whopping 24-title catalogue so far.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for total
Recent Examples of Synonyms for total
Adjective
-
Byrd was a stud today, an absolute stud.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The book picks up in the aftermath, leading you no closer to an absolute answer but through the tangled impossibility of ever fully knowing another person.—
Chloe Schama,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s an entire mindset switch, a complete flip between working as an individual contributor and becoming a leader or manager.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
For the previous ten seconds, a huge green piece of a caterpillar roll had required the curator’s entire attention.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Minnesota state investigators would need to be able to conduct a thorough investigation to move forward with potential state charges against the unnamed ICE agent who fatally shot Good, according to Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Bath toys deserve a thorough cleaning at least monthly to remove body soil and soap scum that can invite mold and mildew to form.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to the latest bound, proved in 2004 by Imre Ruzsa of the Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics in Hungary, a sum of 1020 cosines — that’s a 1 with 20 zeros after it, about the number of molecules in a cubic inch of air — must have a minimum value smaller than about −7.—
Leila Sloman,
Quanta Magazine,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In the last few years, deals have been slower to emerge from the festival, particularly as streamers stopped offering massive sums for films to stock their platforms and as studios cut back on spending.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Five of them will be white balls numbered 1 to 69.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Students defined as newcomers numbered 17,359 this year.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Kendrick De Luna and Landon Seaman each added 10 points and Jefferson De La Cruz Monegro contributed nine points and six rebounds for the Titans (10-12 overall, 5-5 Big West), who avenged a 94-91 home loss to the Mustangs (7-14, 3-6) in the conference opener in December.—
Oc Register,
Oc Register,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Schoenrock added that the green tree reservoirs depend on floodwater that didn't come this season.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
-
This will either change your life or ruin you.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Read on for the complete list of winners and nominees.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
His plans are complete, and permits are moving forward.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/total. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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