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total

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noun

total

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word total distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of total are all, entire, and whole. While all these words mean "including everything or everyone without exception," total implies that everything has been counted, weighed, measured, or considered.

the total number of people present

How does the word all relate to other synonyms for total?

All may equal whole, entire, or total.

all proceeds go to charity

When can entire be used instead of total?

In some situations, the words entire and total are roughly equivalent. However, entire may suggest a state of completeness or perfection to which nothing can be added.

the entire population was wiped out

Where would whole be a reasonable alternative to total?

While in some cases nearly identical to total, whole implies that nothing has been omitted, ignored, abated, or taken away.

read the whole book

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 total
Adjective
In March, the United States experienced a total lunar eclipse for the first time since 2022, which was visible from every state in the country. Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2025 As of Wednesday, only 70,000 Palestinians had evacuated Gaza City out of approximately one million people, a senior Israeli official said, making up less than 10% of the total population. Ibrahim Dahman, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
The night was a fashion show for Carpenter, who rocked a total of four looks — including her bold red carpet ensemble. Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 Joveljic now owns the third-highest goal total for a season in club history. Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Goldman estimates that hyperscaler capex has totaled $368 billion so far this year. Jim Edwards, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025 In contrast, professional and business services lost 17,000 jobs, and manufacturing fell by 12,000, totaling a decline of 78,000 jobs this year. Jordan Green, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for total
Recent Examples of Synonyms for total
Adjective
  • Open spaces, huge rooms, and an absolute lack of privacy are all the rage.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
  • After a review, the ACIP decided to focus first on getting the vaccine to people at the absolute highest risk, people 65 and up, a recommendation ultimately accepted by the CDC.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The entire series is available on Disney+, and Season 2 has 12 episodes, between 45 minutes and an hour each.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • But to be honest, one pump of either doesn’t cover my entire big face.
    Jessica Hartshorn, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Our department is committed to a thorough and impartial review.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2025
  • There were too many instances of big plays that could have been prevented had the initial tackle attempt been successful, and at the very least, a more thorough attempt would have helped slow the ball carrier down.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • That value is ironically and necessarily bound up with independence from government control, even as its realization depends on receiving enormous sums of government money.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Mark Zuckerberg has invested large sums of money into Meta.
    John Tufts, IndyStar, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Five of them will be white balls numbered from 1 to 69, and one red Powerball numbered from 1 to 26.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Thousands of Thais on Thursday watched as flight tracking data showed Thaksin’s plane, a Bombardier Global 7500 numbered T7GTS, flying toward Singapore before turning west and circling several times.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Ladd McConkey added six catches for 74 yards.
    Jesse Newell, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • After a major measles resurgence began in 1989, scientists moved to add a second dose of the MMR vaccine to bolster protection—but the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC’s vaccine-advisory panel disagreed on the optimal time to administer it.
    Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Our family has been ruined by Denise's lies of promising to end a year-long affair.
    Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Maple and Francesca each opted for dresses, with the former donning a semi-sheer black number and the latter choosing a silky brown slip dress matching her father's color palette.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
  • This trend includes smaller, high-end homes and with buyers favoring places that offer meaningful features over sheer size or clout.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/total. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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