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
as in quite
to a full extent or degree
she listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in okay
used to express agreement
"Are you calling me a liar?" "Exactly."
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exactly
The reaction was exactly Nigel’s reaction in the show, which was actually quite satisfying but risky.
—
Matt Minton, Variety, 28 Apr. 2025
That’s exactly half of the artists on this year’s shortlist; apologies to fan-vote winners Phish for their loss.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Researchers still don’t know exactly what causes RA.
—Rena Goldman, Health, 27 Apr. 2025
Those remarks suggested the pilots were spending too much time and energy looking outside of the cockpit and not enough looking at their instruments, namely the three altimeters that would have indicated to them exactly how far above the ground the plane was flying.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exactly
Matt Minton, Variety, 28 Apr. 2025
That’s exactly half of the artists on this year’s shortlist; apologies to fan-vote winners Phish for their loss.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Researchers still don’t know exactly what causes RA.
—Rena Goldman, Health, 27 Apr. 2025
Those remarks suggested the pilots were spending too much time and energy looking outside of the cockpit and not enough looking at their instruments, namely the three altimeters that would have indicated to them exactly how far above the ground the plane was flying.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
Adverb
-
By episode 2, the former Fireflies make it to an area just outside Jackson and see how heavily fortified the city is.—
Eliana Dockterman,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
-
But the Heat then scored just 21 points while shooting 1 of 6 (16.7 percent) on threes in the fourth quarter.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
From a terminal far out of harm’s way, drone pilots could hover in the sky for hours, soaking up surveillance information, building a case for precisely whom to bomb and when to do it.—
Colin Jones,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
-
What, precisely, turns one random guy into a saint?—
Jason Farago,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Louisiana's nine detention centers, eight of which are privately operated, include the only ICE facility in the country directly connected to an airport, thus streamlining mass deportations across the state.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Lindsey Reese,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox.—
Emily Olsen,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
When asked about it in his pre-match press conference, Silva, quite fairly, dismissed its relevance in strong terms.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
But by the end of the 19th century, the industrial social-economic order that tariffs helped foster were quite different from what earlier protectionists had promised.—
Made by History,
Time,
28 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Thomas had a long and prolific career, right up to his final years, despite his health woes and a famously cranky personality that could curdle soup across the room.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
-
This lightweight cream truly melts right in without the slightest bit of cast.—
Sarah Han,
Allure,
25 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Crisp skin gives way to a perfectly rosy center, and the dish finds its soulmate in Chateau Elan’s reserve Merlot—a round and juicy red with just enough tannin to balance the duck’s richness.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Bone collectors will even chew a piece down to fit perfectly amid the other remains.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
24 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Jake Locker, drafted by Mike Reinfeldt in 2011, couldn’t stay healthy or throw accurately.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
But the full implications of those cuts for the nation’s ability to accurately interpret dynamic changes in the planet’s weather and to predict long-term warming scenarios through its modeling arm in Princeton have not.—
Abrahm Lustgarten,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2025
Adverb
-
Or, as Dries put it, was all about paying attention.—
Brett Braley,
Robb Report,
23 Apr. 2025
-
If Ward, Sanders, and Dart are all off the board when the Steelers come up, the team could get desperate.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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