as in absolutely
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Recent Examples of categorically
Within days of the announcement, the American Medical Association and dozens of medical societies urged DHS to categorically exempt physicians, residents, and fellows based on workforce needs and the realities of underserved care.
—
Lorraine D'alessio,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
The quality of a child’s public school education being determined by ZIP code is categorically unfair AND inefficient.
—
Dr. Gisele C. Shorter,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
That is simply categorically not the case.
—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 June 2026
The team implied — but didn’t state categorically — that the discussions centered on the team’s current tenancy at Soldier Field rather than possibilities for a new stadium in Chicago.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2026
But in August 2025, the transportation agency adopted a new policy categorically prohibiting surface art in existing installations and seeking removal of existing street art without exception, Rosner said.
—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2026
Moral reasoning is categorically different.
—
Ted Chiang,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2026
Any claim to the contrary is categorically false.
—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
In its ruling, the court found that, pursuant to federal immigration law, only recent immigrants apprehended at the border or a point of entry — such as an airport — can be categorically denied bond.
—
Lautaro Grinspan,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
Lorraine D'alessio,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
The quality of a child’s public school education being determined by ZIP code is categorically unfair AND inefficient.
—
Dr. Gisele C. Shorter,
Hartford Courant,
19 June 2026
That is simply categorically not the case.
—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 June 2026
The team implied — but didn’t state categorically — that the discussions centered on the team’s current tenancy at Soldier Field rather than possibilities for a new stadium in Chicago.
—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2026
But in August 2025, the transportation agency adopted a new policy categorically prohibiting surface art in existing installations and seeking removal of existing street art without exception, Rosner said.
—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2026
Moral reasoning is categorically different.
—
Ted Chiang,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2026
Any claim to the contrary is categorically false.
—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
In its ruling, the court found that, pursuant to federal immigration law, only recent immigrants apprehended at the border or a point of entry — such as an airport — can be categorically denied bond.
—
Lautaro Grinspan,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for categorically
Adverb
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Argentina, Ecuador, the Netherlands and now Colombia have absolutely jam-packed the place.
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That was a mild day for the time, but 250 years later, the city is absolutely roasting.
Adverb
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The sound is out of place even amid the usual din at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest.
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In June 2024, Kelce and Swift were at the center of worldwide attention, even though their relationship wasn’t even a year old.
Adverb
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Rodríguez said authorities have recorded 862 aftershocks since the main quakes and confirmed that 189 buildings collapsed completely nationwide, the vast majority in La Guaira, the coastal state that suffered the worst destruction.
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The office didn’t completely save records with state archives as required by law.
Adverb
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Other buildings were seen entirely crumbled on the ground.
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Rabbitt said investigators believe the deaths occurred entirely inside Steadman's apartment and that, based on the evidence collected so far, there is no indication anyone from outside the family was involved.
Adverb
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Although more cautious than the NAIA, the slow-moving NCAA has been downright bullish compared to its usual sport-adoption protocols.
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As The Traitors' host, Cumming oversees a hodgepodge of reality stars and C-list celebrities who partake in a series of challenges ranging from goofy to downright harrowing — that season 2 cabin of maggots!
Adverb
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A lot of couples just don’t attend cocktail hour because of photos and that’s totally fine.
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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s love story will reach new heights this week with a totally low-key two-day wedding bash at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
Adverb
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That power is not wholly spent, nor wholly eclipsed, by anti-democratic forces.
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Which brings us to the second – 20th- and 21st-century – level of Wuthering Heights’ wholly justified fame.
Cite this Entry
“Categorically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/categorically. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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