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 This does exactly as it’s made to do: make a damn good cup of single-serve coffee, pour-over style. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2025 And, believe me, threat actors know exactly where to find the most valuable of them, available in credential-stuffing, password spraying, format for a small fee. Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025 The county has an emergency management plan which delineates exactly what to do in case of a flood. Michel Martin, NPR, 9 July 2025 The way to do it is with judicious use of strong contrast colours, and that’s exactly what Nike has done here, with those pinks, blues and reds underneath the armpits and down the side of the shorts. Nick Miller, New York Times, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
Adverb
  • As a result, their bonus pool is just $6.57 million, third lowest among MLB teams.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • Mason is a stand-up comic Pryor's youngest son is a stand-up comic, just like his dad.
    Julie Tremaine, People.com, 13 July 2025
Adverb
  • More precisely, Jews have been subjected to an invidious double standard: attacks, verbal and physical, that would never be tolerated against Blacks, gays and other minorities are not only tolerated, but often justified when directed at Jews.
    Alan M. Dershowitz, New York Daily News, 6 July 2025
  • This was something of a surprise given Carter is regarded as England’s best player in one-against-one duels out wide, and she was probably favoured over Niamh Charles precisely for this reason.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 6 July 2025
Adverb
  • And Craig’s wife directly accused him of poisoning her when she was discharged from her second hospital stay, the dental employee who saw the potassium cyanide package told investigators, according to the affidavit.
    Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 10 July 2025
  • The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2025
Adverb
  • Long live Amazon Prime Day 2025 for offering up our favorite candle brands and scents at quite healthy discounts.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 9 July 2025
  • July's full moon will look quite low in the sky after sunset, Space.com says.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 July 2025
Adverb
  • Just like learning a new language—you’ve got to get phonics right first, not just vocabulary.
    Bill Hoogterp, Fortune, 6 July 2025
  • But holding onto the lead won't be easy, McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris are right behind him on the starting grid and hungry for a home-soil win.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
Adverb
  • The perfectly baked eggplant in the borani badajan vege plate was surprisingly not mushy but rather tender.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado July 5, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2025
  • The plan was perfectly curated to make the transition as smooth, drama-free, and advantageous as possible, Jorge says.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 5 July 2025
Adverb
  • That accurately sums up the plea deal. — Richard Vatz, Towson Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 July 2025
  • Investors can price risk and returns more accurately, making capital markets much more efficient.
    Dave Birnbaum, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025
Adverb
  • In effect, platform engineering principles are all about streamlining and standardizing the development, deployment and management of applications to improve productivity, reduce operational overheads, shorten application cycle times and accelerate speed to market.
    Steve Millidge, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • Retro gingham Capricorn is all about timeless style with a tailored twist.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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