Definition of exactlynext
1
as in just
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference we will meet at exactly six o'clock

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2
3
as in directly
in the same words a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in strictly
without any relaxation of standards or precision follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6

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 exactly Nor did his spectacular $25 million Venice wedding to Lauren exactly soften the optics. Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 Still, exactly how many Venezuelans could be affected by De la Espriella’s order remains unclear. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 Sometimes, hearing those three words is exactly the reassurance someone needs. Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Once the helicopter crew had those coordinates, the pilot finally knew exactly where to find us. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
Adverb
  • But his record of publicly interacting with Piker — including at a pool party just before the primary — remains a sore point among some Michigan Democrats.
    Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Search and rescue efforts are only just beginning, and these first hours are filled with uncertainty, but also with hope.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • There’s no clear explanation for why, precisely, liberals tend to have fewer children than conservatives do.
    Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The mission also carries instruments from Egypt, Switzerland, Bahrain and Italy; the latter country’s instrument is a small laser retroreflector on the lander that can be used to precisely measure distances from orbiters to the lunar surface.
    Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • When the state failed to secure bids, municipalities had to seek emergency supplies or contact salt mines directly.
    Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Reporting the issue directly helps our teams assess the situation and coordinate an appropriate response.
    Terell Bailey, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Is this chatty attitude appropriate for a strictly business call?
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Just for the same exact reason why details should not be strictly decorative.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • The currents in the sea mean that swimming with small children or weak swimmers can be quite unrelaxing.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Jacquelyn is quite private and has no social media accounts.
    Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Council members split, 3-3, again, and this time Bruner voted yes, pushing it through, 4-3.
    Noah Daly August 20, Idaho Statesman, 20 Aug. 2026
  • John has been working his whole life to be deemed a worthy member of the Green Lantern corps, and Hal was literally handed the ring after answering a single yes-or-no question correctly.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Well, right after that, something happened between us on set.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Other Giants pitchers on the IL include Matt Gage (left elbow strain), Trevor McDonald (right elbow strain), and Keaton Winn (right elbow neuritis).
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • Before Gould arrived, Gates’s team spent the day installing — making sure every bedspread, headboard, desk arrangement, lamp and, of course, the umbrella were perfectly in place.
    Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Mia Wasikowska perfectly embodies the role of Agata, a writer returning to her home continent, seeking to understand and reconnect with the wounds of the recent past, and with the ways in which unresolved conflicts continue to echo in the present.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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