entire 1 of 2

Definition of entirenext

entire

2 of 2

adverb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word entire distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of entire are all, total, and whole. While all these words mean "including everything or everyone without exception," entire may suggest a state of completeness or perfection to which nothing can be added.

the entire population was wiped out

How is all related to other words for entire?

All may equal whole, entire, or total.

all proceeds go to charity

When could total be used to replace entire?

The synonyms total and entire are sometimes interchangeable, but total implies that everything has been counted, weighed, measured, or considered.

the total number of people present

Where would whole be a reasonable alternative to entire?

The meanings of whole and entire largely overlap; however, 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 entire
Adjective
Cotillard binged the entire show in three days and was a fan, Leder recalled. Matt Minton, Variety, 10 June 2026 IndieWire recently celebrated the process of the entire show at an event presented in partnership with Prime Video. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 June 2026 Despite the detailed prop and set specs, the entire process was relatively speedy with development taking four-months, pre-production eight weeks and the shoot ten days spread over three weeks. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 10 June 2026 The Utah data center O’Leary is backing would use more electricity than the entire state does annually. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for entire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entire
Adjective
  • Bilton’s arrival was immediately met with internal pushback from Pelley, who confronted the new boss during a heated all-hands meeting on Monday.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2026
  • Tortorello said O’Mara would say Mass in the morning with the sisters, the students and staff, and also presided over the large, all-school masses and the Kairos retreats.
    Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • The whole world relied on our labor, but none of us felt any sense of accomplishment.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
  • The drums were louder, the extra kick drums hit harder, and the whole song felt … Blacker.
    Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026
Adverb
  • Renwick’s belief that athleticwear designers were for too long a time absorbed in making men’s lives easier — and efforts to reverse this pattern by turning its gaze towards women — completely revolutionized the industry, which is why the brand is a no-brainer addition to this article.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 4 June 2026
  • Healey, a former two-term attorney general, is completely disregarding public safety by her reckless rhetoric and actions – all to win another election.
    Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
Adjective
  • Israel considers all of Jerusalem to be its eternal, undivided capital.
    Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
  • In just over 70 minutes, Daisies touches on it all, making a delectable film that deserves your undivided attention.
    Jennifer Noyes, Air Mail, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Put simply, Maine would not be Maine without its lobster—and a trip to Maine wouldn’t be complete without eating some.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • That single trait adds a complete unpredictability to Waddle’s breaks.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 June 2026
Adverb
  • Zaya's adorable smile might just be her best accessory in this green and pink tuxedo inspired look that was perfectly coordinated with Union and Dwyane at the Better Brothers Los Angeles Truth Awards in March 2020.
    Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
  • Best Women’s Clothing Deals My favorite part of traveling, besides the destination itself, is curating the ultimate travel wardrobe that perfectly matches the vibe of the trip.
    Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • At the Booth & Dimock Memorial Library, total electronic circulation increased from 6,339 in 2021 to 12,152 in 2025, Khan said.
    Julia Casola, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
  • Add the tofu in an even layer and cook until golden brown on the top and bottom, flipping halfway through, 3 to 4 minutes total.
    Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Adverb
  • The book is a poetry collection structured in three acts with seven players, each assigned a color of the rainbow and an apparition’s name, each of whom needs an audience to fully exist.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
  • But critics questioned if the arrangement fully addressed the core national security concerns that motivated the TikTok ban legislation in the first place because ByteDance was set to retain control of some of the US app’s operations.
    Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 29 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Entire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entire. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.

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