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
Through six games, the offense has had one or fewer pass plays of over 20 yards in three contests despite going the entire 2025 season without a game with less than two explosive pass plays. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026 Our South Congress pop-up exceeded expectations from the start, reaching its entire June sales goal within just two days of opening. — Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 Haliburton was sidelined for the entire 2025-26 season while recovering from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 By 2024, scientists counted only seventy-six in the entire run. — Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for entire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entire
Adjective
  • Every so often, the seven-seat Negroni Room pops up for an experiential, all-sensory food-and-drink experience dedicated to its namesake legend—book your spot in advance.
    — Jaclyn DeGiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Hosted by Scott Evans and Zanna Roberts Rassi, the all-women music lineup for the show includes Katseye, Megan Moroney, Megan Thee Stallion and Tate McRae.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • The whole idea is for Israel to keep fighting, because endless wars serve Netanyahu to maintain… a constant state of emergency.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The whole joke is that Chandler is really bad at posing for photos.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • By the 2120s, the entire labyrinth will be completely backfilled, sealed, and handed over to the state.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Simone…commanded a room, captivating audiences with unexpected combinations of genres and her ability to surrender herself completely to the music.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • Lots of undivided attention, positive reinforcement, love, affection, and pride when my kids were successful.
    — Lauren Gelman, Parents, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The following morning, Greenland was still there, still demanding my undivided attention.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Great part was my wife was in complete symphony on it instantly, and that actually was a wonderful bonding moment.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • With just more than a third of the season complete, the Rams are 2-4.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • Rising fuel costs, discontent with the state of schools, declining public services and a housing crisis have created perfectly stormy weather for an autumn of protests in Europe.
    — Teresa Medrano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • This process, which generates perfectly crystalline silicon ingots to be sliced like fragile metallic salamis into thin wafers, is entrusted largely to one firm in Taiwan and two in Japan.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Adjective
  • In total, more than 400 bodies have been recovered from the Shakahola Forest.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The total area that burns in fires each year will increase dramatically — 50% by mid-century — without changes in land management.
    — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Adverb
  • The fully electric design combines a 151 MWh energy storage system with containerized batteries and port charging infrastructure.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, Wealth Briefing Asia notes that regulatory and reporting challenges often stop family offices from fully embracing crypto assets.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Entire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entire. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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