Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

exactly

adverb

Synonyms and Antonyms of exactly

1 as stated or indicated without the slightest difference
  • We will meet at exactly six o'clock.
Synonyms of exactly

due, full, just, precisely, right, sharp, smack-dab, squarely
Phrases Synonymous with exactly

on the button, on the nose
2 in the same manner
  • He wants to be exactly like his father.
Synonyms of exactly

just, precisely
Words Related to exactly

even, expressly, faultlessly, perfectly

identically, uniformly

alike, likewise, similarly
Phrases Synonymous with exactly

to a T
Near Antonyms of exactly

slightly, somewhat, vaguely

differently, variably
3 in the same words
  • a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly
Synonyms of exactly

directly, verbatim, word for word
Words Related to exactly

accurately, precisely

identically

literally
Near Antonyms of exactly

basically, essentially, virtually

carelessly, freely, imprecisely, inaccurately, loosely
Antonyms of exactly

inexactly
4 without any relaxation of standards or precision
  • Follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble.
Synonyms of exactly

precisely, rigidly, rigorously, strictly
Words Related to exactly

carefully, conscientiously, meticulously, scrupulously
Antonyms of exactly

imprecisely, inexactly, loosely
5 to a full extent or degree
  • She listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway.
Synonyms of exactly

all, all of, all over, altogether, clean, completely, dead, enough, entirely, even, fast, flat, full, fully, heartily, out, perfectly, plumb [chiefly dialect], quite, soundly, thoroughly, through and through, totally, utterly, well, wholly, wide
Words Related to exactly

absolutely, categorically, cold, downright, hands down, plain, stone, stone-cold, unqualifiedly

basically, by and large, chiefly, generally, largely, mainly, more or less, mostly, overall, predominantly, predominately, primarily, principally, substantially

abundantly, copiously, generously, greatly
Phrases Synonymous with exactly

all the way, at length, down the line, down to the ground, for fair, in whole, to bits, to pieces, to the hilt, to the max
Near Antonyms of exactly

barely, hardly, just, kind of, marginally, minimally, scarcely, slightly, superficially

approximately, roughly, somewhat
Antonyms of exactly

half, halfway, incompletely, part, partially, partly
6 used to express agreement
  • "Are you calling me a liar?" "Exactly."
Synonyms of exactly

all right, alright, aye (also ay), OK (or okay), okeydoke (or okeydokey), yea, yeah, yep, yes, yo
Words Related to exactly

absolutely, assuredly, certainly, indeed, indisputably, positively, undoubtedly, unquestionably
Antonyms of exactly

nay, no, no way, scarcely

Learn More about exactly

  1. Dictionary: Definition of exactly Spanish Central: Translation of exactly Nglish: Translation of exactly for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of exactly for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up exactly? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games