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
That top-speed capability means that no one can let their gaze linger on the design that would inspire an entire generation of Astons to come. — Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026 That looks like a password reset that blocks off an entire morning. — Tal Dagan, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 FastestVPN works across your phone, tablet, Smart TV, router, and more, covering your entire digital life. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026 This is how a senior diplomat can lecture British bureaucrats about North Korea’s victimhood one day and then flee North Korea with his entire family a few weeks later. — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 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
  • Their Superman hadn’t bothered to spring for the whole costume.
    — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Panera’s Greek yogurt with mixed berries was also listed, and the chain’s ham, egg and cheese on whole-grain bread was one spot ahead of the McDonald’s Egg McMuffin.
    — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026
Adverb
  • Metz always saw it as an amazing tool and biological specimen that had just been completely ignored.
    — Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The werewolf’s victims reappear in hallucinations completely drenched in blood, while the hugely likable Griffin Dunne exits in spectacular fashion, totally ripped to shreds.
    — Vulture Editors, Vulture, 30 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
  • Lead author Samantha Gilbert-Janizek expanded the model to include those missing systems, creating a more complete picture of how chemicals move throughout a rocky planet.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • As the Moon joins Mars in Leo, creative courage may arrive before complete confidence.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Adverb
  • Gigi Hadid broke out the trend in corduroy pants form, which is perfectly seasonal with soft and warm fabric paired with a relaxed design.
    — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2026
  • On the long touchdown catch-and-run, Johnson and Mahomes worked it perfectly.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • Trump has often pointed over the past months to historical data showing that the party holding total control of Washington tends to perform poorly in midterm elections.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • This initiative would require certain private nonprofit healthcare clinics to spend at least 90% of their annual total revenue on patient services.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Adverb
  • More retreat than resort, the 17-room lodge leans into its eco-conscious cred, maximizing the natural beauty of the surroundings and bringing those elements indoors to create a fully restorative experience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Bocken says the long-term ambition is to go fully autonomous.
    — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Entire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entire. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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