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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 The letter released by the committee looks exactly as described by The Journal in its report. Dan Gooding gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025 But what, exactly, does that mean in 2025? Max Tani, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Balance is exactly what the sector needs. Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2025 So who knows exactly which food options Idaho’s drive-thru will offer. Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
Adverb
  • If just one mishap goes the other way, maybe Dallas walks away with a victory on opening night.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Start by cutting back the top growth to just a couple of inches to expose the crown of the plant.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • Instead, their only aim is to protect themselves, which is precisely how the second horseman arrives.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Controlling cavitation precisely inside the human body (without damaging nearby tissue) will be very difficult.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • In the east, crews continued to build line between Wiseman Springs and Rancheria Creek, engaging the fire directly along its active edge where favorable.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The New York Times in 2015 reported that hundreds of Colombian mercenaries had been sent to Yemen to fight against the Houthi rebels, hired directly — and in secret — by the UAE.
    Rebecca Johns, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • The Sun, a notoriously bright object, would’ve burnt out the optical systems for Hubble and Spitzer if they were ever pointed in the Sun’s directions, so such observations were strictly forbidden.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The possession, sale, or import of THC-containing substances is strictly prohibited in Japan.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • The silk faille jacket was not quite white but a pale blush, and the loose pants and top beneath had an intricate pattern of silver beads.
    Belinda Luscombe, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
  • To my surprise, the burger was quite good; a gooey mesh of meat and cheese became one flesh.
    Joe Joyce, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • However, the Ulrich plan largely predicted it right, envisioning a district that would absorb all of California’s northern state line with Oregon, stretching to Nevada.
    David Mark, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The inability, or decision not, to sell players who would have boosted the club’s spending power is a subjective call made by United’s key decision-makers that will never sit right with some supporters.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • Late in the second quarter, facing second-and-10 from the Pittsburgh 35, Rodgers led receiver Calvin Austin III perfectly with one of those off-balance wrist-flick throws 14 yards past the line of scrimmage from the far hash, for a 30-yard gain.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • In short, the Norfleet touchdown perfectly encapsulated the role of fourth-down aggression in this game.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 7 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • The authors note that not all artificial sweeteners were included in the study and diet information reported by the participants may not have been remembered 100 percent accurately.
    Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
  • There’s a recent study from researchers at Salesforce that concluded most of today’s large language models (LLMs) cannot accurately perform customer relation management (CRM) tasks—a particularly ironic conclusion since Salesforce itself has been pushing AI agents to automate CRM processes.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on exactly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!