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 But if Tottenham beat United on Wednesday week, this is exactly the dilemma Daniel Levy and the other senior power brokers at the club will have to face. Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 10 May 2025 What exactly Trump’s tariff scheme is supposed to achieve in the first place seems to morph every day. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 May 2025 But string and yarn can become a headache for owners if their cats get their paws on it, which is exactly what happened to TikTok user @healingat40. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 Yet Denver dodged exactly 26 bullets on Friday night, as a host of normally capable Thunder shooters finished 9-of-35 from deep and spent long stretches clanking open triples off the rim. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
Adverb
  • The singer had just gotten off the road from her Strip Love arena tour.
    Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 May 2025
  • The Oilers got out in front early, scoring just 1:27 into the game off the stick of Adam Henrique, his second goal of the playoffs, which turned out to be all the Oilers would need.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
Adverb
  • The naming practices can frustrate efforts to track the chemicals in food, to measure how much of the stuff people are taking in, and even to figure out precisely which chemicals a scientific study evaluated, researchers said.
    David Hilzenrath, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
  • Clarity begins with defining your niche so precisely that your name naturally comes to mind when people think of a particular concept.
    John Knotts, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Adverb
  • Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
    Dustin Staggs, Arkansas Online, 11 May 2025
  • Further visits confirmed that her frequent ear pain was directly linked to her overbite, and in her case, surgery was the only effective solution.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 11 May 2025
Adverb
  • Halper, of Top Ten Liquors, isn’t quite sure what to expect from the federal government.
    Danielle Wiener-Bronner, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
  • When that happens, their buzzing calls used to attract mates are quite loud.
    Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
Adverb
  • These jangly contradictions, presented as truths, are designed to rattle and rewire our brains; just think how easily a corrupt authoritarian leader could put them to use, and how readily a not-thinking public could fall right in line.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 20 May 2025
  • Here’s another example of Andersen’s stick discipline saving him on a high-danger shot from right in front of the net.
    Jesse Granger, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Adverb
  • 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
  • My favorite looks, though, were always ones that perfectly encapsulated #MinnieStyle.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 18 May 2025
Adverb
  • The new study was finally able to precisely assess the magnitude of that solar storm and date it more accurately.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 19 May 2025
  • Japan’s Cabinet Office took to X earlier this month to explain that modern technology has yet to be able to accurately predict an earthquake.
    Chris Lau, CNN Money, 19 May 2025
Adverb
  • Garden Graduation is all about creating a whimsical experience with floral outdoor place settings, picnic-style decor with gingham throws, and charcuterie boards.
    Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 May 2025
  • Together, these two show us what love is all about -- partnership and finding someone who will always love you.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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