CATEGORICALLY Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

categorically

adverb

Definition of categorically

as in absolutely

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 categorically Even so, Netanyahu categorically rejected this road map, insisting that there could be no Israeli withdrawal until Hamas was fully disarmed and that Israel remained free to continue military operations in Gaza. — Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026 That isn’t to say that Mark Zuckerberg is less evil than Sam Altman, only that these films — one diagnostic, the other biblical — adopt categorically different perspectives on their subjects, neither one of whom can leave their humanity behind. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026 El-Sayed has since disavowed Piker’s controversial statements and ended plans for joint campaigning, but has not categorically repudiated him nor apologized for appearing with him. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026 El-Sayed has since disavowed Piker's controversial statements and ended plans for joint campaigning, but has not categorically repudiated him nor apologized for appearing with him. — CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026 Flynn took the witness stand in an oxford gray suit and categorically denied having sex with either of his accusers. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Vargas found that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had exceeded his authority by categorically stopping consular officers from issuing visas based on applicants’ nationalities. — María Luisa Paúl, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Murray said he is not categorically opposed to a data center in Waxhaw, but any proposal would need to be governed by clear rules that account for its effects on surrounding neighborhoods and the town’s utilities. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 4 Aug. 2026 Jafri has categorically denied any wrongdoing in the Dubai sale. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for categorically

Adverb

The regular season as a whole will absolutely lose some juice.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
There’s a big data center that just came to my community not long ago and their community engagement was horrible, absolutely horrible.

— Dustin DeSoto, Vox, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of absolutely

Adverb

Yet despite the construction boom and falling rents, Pew noted that housing gaps remain even larger for lower-income residents, especially those hoping to buy a home.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
The Beach Boys’ touring machine has been going nearly nonstop for the last 65 or so years, as Stamos and Christian Love noted in the intro, driven by Mike as one of pop music’s most inveterate and even seemingly compulsive tourers.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of even

Adverb

This is a major milestone for us, but honestly, that happened completely naturally and organically.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
The screen is also a pleasure to read, both with the backlight and completely unlit under natural light, with text looking sharp and even grayscale renderings of color art showing plenty of detail.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of completely

Adverb

At Helen, also downtown in a 1920s-era building, chef Rob McDaniel serves a menu almost entirely cooked over a grill that's inspired by his grandmother's open-fire cooking.

— Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
Its moments of overstatement are entirely human, en route to a lighter, softer state of serenity.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of entirely

Adverb

After co-headlining with Charli xcx at the peak of Brat Summer, Sivan was struck by his post-show emotional crash, when the roar of stadiums gave way to the quiet of being totally on his own.

— Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026
Because your husband should totally be your mentor, that’s a very healthy power dynamic!

— Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of totally

Adverb

Of course, the West itself is a nebulous concept, one that was wholly absent from the ancient Greek and Roman luminaries who ground its canon.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
Chula Vista, which has wholly embraced such technologies, also utilizes AI to write police reports.

— Jakob McWhinney, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of wholly

Browse Nearby Words

categorical

categorically

Cite this Entry

Style

“Categorically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/categorically. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of categorically

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

bon vivant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 16

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes