as in absolutely
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Recent Examples of categorically
For Dungarpur, the program is categorically different from the film societies and clubs that have historically been independent cinema’s only theatrical outlet in India.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
During Sunday's interview, Conejo Arias categorically rejected the accusation.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
That doesn’t categorically rule out Denver landing a game as a visiting team, but typically teams are at least aware of the possibility by this point a little more than a month before the schedule is released.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
Those were categorically false.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2026
The signatories of Tuesday’s letter categorically rejected the use of military intervention.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
Anti-American and antisemitic rhetoric should be categorically unacceptable in any venue.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Any claims to the contrary are categorically false.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026
Advertisement But overall, the change to the RSP leaves Anthropic far less constrained by its own safety policies, which previously categorically barred it from training models above a certain level if appropriate safety measures weren’t already in place.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
During Sunday's interview, Conejo Arias categorically rejected the accusation.
—Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
That doesn’t categorically rule out Denver landing a game as a visiting team, but typically teams are at least aware of the possibility by this point a little more than a month before the schedule is released.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026
Those were categorically false.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2026
The signatories of Tuesday’s letter categorically rejected the use of military intervention.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
Anti-American and antisemitic rhetoric should be categorically unacceptable in any venue.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
Any claims to the contrary are categorically false.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Feb. 2026
Advertisement But overall, the change to the RSP leaves Anthropic far less constrained by its own safety policies, which previously categorically barred it from training models above a certain level if appropriate safety measures weren’t already in place.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for categorically
Adverb
-
Paint, solvents, aerosol sprays, and the like should absolutely never be stored under the kitchen sink.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The Cubs absolutely believe this will work.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
As the graceful Moon opposes Jupiter later, big feelings meet even bigger hopes.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Even if well-intentioned, this kind of unsolicited feedback can be extremely frustrating and even hurtful.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
In the two years since, Tisza has completely eclipsed Hungary’s old institutional opposition—a fractured gamut ranging from the far right to the left.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
As well-wishers floated between a recording studio, the walk-in closet, a media room, and guest bedrooms, Tuco, the dog, looked completely unfazed by the dozens of curious guests peeking behind every corner.—
Freya Drohan,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Murray continued working on Blackhawks broadcasts, though at a diminished workload, before stepping away entirely this season.—
Jori Parys,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
All this was reassuring but not entirely helpful.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
And Norby, who crusaded against redevelopment, calls the deals downright predatory, where one city essentially steals business from another rather than creating anything new.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
-
From the silly and/or salacious, to the genuinely harrowing, nary a week has gone by without something surprising, if not downright disturbing, in the world of media, entertainment and celebrity.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
That’s also despite the fact that Anna has about $500 in her bank account, a totally unrealistic sum to potentially sustain a voyage to Italy where a cab alone apparently runs to the cool tune of 200 euros.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This is all so that Coach can feed his own narcissism even while being annoying, wrong, smarmy, and somehow totally in control.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
9 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Whatever entropy pre-existed in the Universe during inflation, or prior to it, is rendered wholly irrelevant.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The entire linear cable business has been steadily declining in the streaming era, which would explain why GSN — wholly owned by SPE since 2019 — is being folded into the studio’s game show portfolio.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Categorically.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/categorically. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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