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
The entire sound is inspired by downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 10 July 2026 Even fewer have the potential to do something profound and ignite a new narrative about a place that shifts how an entire neighborhood, city, or even a country is preceived from the outside in. Peter Lane Taylor, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Lyricists have to make sure the audience sees the entire situation by the end of the first verse. Literary Hub, 10 July 2026 The detective noted that Burkhart left more than an entire car length of space in front of him. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for entire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entire
Adjective
  • Maruja Limón hails from Barcelona, as do the like-minded, all-woman quartets Las Migas and Ketekalles.
    George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2026
  • Check in to the largest all-electric hotel as Limelight Boulder turns on the power, or the Hotel Boulderado, an all-American classic fresh off a major renovation.
    CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
Adjective
  • Chicken enchiladas are one of our favorite make-ahead meals for the whole family.
    Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 July 2026
  • Some artists leave a stark contrast between matte and glossy designs, while others go in with one final, shiny top coat over the whole nail.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 July 2026
Adverb
  • Communists want to end capitalism and replace it with a system where almost all private property is outlawed and the economy is completely run by the state.
    Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 10 July 2026
  • The north offers something completely different to the south.
    Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
Adjective
  • Each year when Wimbledon rolls around, tennis fans crane their necks and watch their TV screens with undivided attention for a glance at the Royal Box, anxiously awaiting if Kate Middleton will be in attendance.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • McCart Avenue from McPherson Boulevard to Twin Leaf Drive will be constructed as a two-lane undivided road.
    Emily Holshouser July 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • Roupp fought to stay in the game and record the first complete game of his career, but at 104 pitches, Vitello went to his bullpen to seal the blowout win instead of pushing his starter.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • These days, a complete Wirkkala set can fetch upwards of $3,600.
    Jessica Salter, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Adverb
  • The crafty 10th-seeded Czech, whose slices and volleys are perfectly suited to Wimbledon’s low-bouncing surface, carries a medicine cabinet’s worth of remedies to prove that the All England Club’s famous lawns can be a real irritant.
    Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Obama perfectly captured the moral realism that was so prevalent among Cold War liberals.
    David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • The total increases to $256 for 11 to 15 mph over the limit, $281 for 16 to 20 mph over, and $334 for more than 20 mph over.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026
  • The Cubs have a total bonus pool of $9,644,100, nearly identical to their 2025 number.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026
Adverb
  • Meanwhile, Israeli attacks, though lessened, have not fully abated, with near-daily strikes killing at least 1,072 people since the ceasefire took effect.
    Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Looking ahead, 74 percent of retail executives expect to deploy AI at scale within the next 12 months, which places the sector among the fastest across all industries to fully adopt the technology.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Entire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entire. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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