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entire

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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 steno keyboard is specially designed to press multiple keys at once to capture entire syllables or words in a single stroke. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 18 May 2025 Leaning into a freedom or pollinator lawn does not mean digging up one’s entire lawn and reseeding it although that is one option. Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 18 May 2025 Since then, the Club Shay Shay host and his legal team have vehemently denied the allegations and claimed the Jane Doe set up the entire situation with a plan to extort him for $50 million. Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 5 May 2025 Dina’s hair looks incredible the entire time, by the way. Kate Aurthur, Variety, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for entire
Recent Examples of Synonyms for entire
Adjective
  • Also while at Kansas, Townsend has coached 13 NBA Draft lottery selections, more than 30 overall NBA draftees and 70 all-Big 12 Jayhawks.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2025
  • This touchscreen laptop is big on power, but small in stature thanks to a Ryzen 7 CPU and an all-metal chassis weighing only 3.62 pounds.
    Jade Chung-Lee, PC Magazine, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Activities include: Farm Tours: Have fun with the whole family and take a hands-on tour of the Hōkūala farm.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025
  • This year is turning into quite a headache not only for 818 Tequila, but for the whole industry.
    Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Kids Receiving Our Full Attention: Put away the distractions and give your kids your undivided attention.
    Joshua Becker, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
  • But even coming close got Tallahassee’s undivided attention.
    Steve Bousquet, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • Walt Disney World is gearing up for a fantastic summer, complete with a new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom, two new shows debuting at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a slew of new activities for guests at select resorts.
    Megan duBois, Southern Living, 12 May 2025
  • By the time markets closed on Monday, the rebound was complete, with traders actually up from January thanks to the biggest day of gains since tariffs tanked confidence.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 12 May 2025
Adverb
  • Goin starts with gold and makes it into something more precious: say, as just one example, a salad of delicate, impossibly sweet lettuces paired with slices of firm, ripe avocado, moons of blood orange, new sugar snap peas and a light, fragrant, perfectly balanced basil-buttermilk dressing.
    Sam Sifton, New York Times, 18 May 2025
  • Pascaline Chavanne’s costumes, especially Seberg’s wardrobe of minute cardigans and jaunty silk scarves, strike every note perfectly.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • The competition — which featured 17 total contestants — unfolded this past weekend, with the preliminary round taking place on Saturday, May 10 and the finals on Sunday, May 11.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 12 May 2025
  • Towns -- who averaged right at 13 boards per game in the regular season and pulled down 32 total rebounds in the last two Knicks-Celtics matchups of the regular season -- grabbed 13, 17 and 15 rebounds in Games 1, 2 and 3.
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Adverb
  • If those conversations do happen, Dr. Brady stresses the importance of listening fully and without judgment.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • On the more challenging side, as in many other European countries, production budgets are rising, theatrical audience numbers have not fully returned to pre-COVID levels and the most significant drop is among kids and youth.
    Annika Pham, Variety, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • On the other hand, users earn free passes and engagement reward points, which cover the full subscription fee initially paid by Hibe, in return.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • The bill, which could come up for a vote in the full House as early as mid May, includes a provision to make good, at least temporarily, on Trump’s campaign promises to eliminate federal income tax on money earned from tips.
    Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Entire.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/entire. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

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