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
One of them was not badly injured, police said, but the other, a 39-year-old woman, suffered multiple injures across her entire body. Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 3 June 2026 The first one will give one team an upper hand, but obviously can’t dictate the entire series. David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026 Ferrari has been Leclerc’s entire F1 life. Luke Smith, New York Times, 3 June 2026 In a case involving one of my stories, the entire program came within 19 minutes of not getting on the air at all. Joanna Ossinger,laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for entire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entire
Adjective
  • With their sleek all-black exterior, the Under Armour Men’s Charged Rogue 5 Sneakers will pair with just about everything in your suitcase, all while keeping your feet impossibly comfortable day in and day out.
    Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026
  • Nor has her embarrassing failure to win confirmation of Vincent DeMore, a former prosecutor, to the Massachusetts Parole Board through the unusually compliant all-Democrat Governor’s Council.
    Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • Grown-ups bring a ladder to climb into the enormous fruit, kids gather up their inflatable toys, someone makes a waterslide out of a piece of rind, and the whole community spends the day splashing in the juice and pulp (being careful to remove the seeds first).
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
  • But there's a whole other class of AI models whose guardrails are much easier to strip away.
    Huo Jingnan, NPR, 31 May 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
  • Premier Sea View rooms, complete with balconies, are the prime choices.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026
  • And ceasefire, allowing complete unfettered access, and most importantly, a full respect for humanitarian law and humanitarian aid workers, and that simply isn't happening at all right now.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 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 7 Jun. 2026.

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