full-scale

adjective

ˈfu̇l-ˌskāl How to pronounce full-scale (audio)
Definition of full-scalenext
as in thorough
trying all possibilities a full-scale search and rescue for the victims of the rock slide

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 full-scale Leipzig/Halle has served as a European base for Ukraine's Antonov jets since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. — Callum Sutherland, Time, 6 Aug. 2026 This strategy did not begin with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. — Thom Reilly, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026 Germany has already provided about $118 billion to support Ukraine since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to Deutsche Welle. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026 North Korea has emerged as one of Moscow's key military allies since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for full-scale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for full-scale
  1. thorough
  2. extensive
  3. comprehensive
  4. complete
  5. sweeping
  6. exhaustive
Adjective
  • The most thorough study of day trading, following every trader in Taiwan for fifteen years, found that the large majority lose money and fewer than one in a hundred make a reliable profit after costs.
    — Daniel Schlaepfer, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Following last year’s automatic reactor shutdowns, EDF conducted a thorough safety review alongside the World Association of Nuclear Operators.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of thorough
Adjective
  • Bannister's extensive career began with Coscarelli and Angus Scrimm in 1975, leading to their legendary Phantasm collaboration.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Dozens of people have died in Riselralda, a department in the heart of the Coffee Axis, and cities throughout the region have reported extensive damage.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of extensive
Adjective
  • Police Chief Alex Gammelgard said the decision follows a comprehensive review of the technology and its future, as well as conversations with community members and changes in how ALPR systems are being used by government agencies.
    — Lyanne Wang, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But Abbott’s data center pause offers false expectations of a comprehensive audit.
    — John Kostyack, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of comprehensive
Adjective
  • Howard County initially approved permits for the project but revoked them in February 2026, when construction was nearly complete.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Of course, no proper French meal would be complete without wine.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of complete
Adjective
  • Senate Republicans originally proposed adding $1 billion in taxpayer security funding for the ballroom as part of a sweeping immigration and border security package in May, but ultimately dropped that provision after significant bipartisan backlash.
    — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
  • His surprising departure during ESPN's sweeping summer layoffs raised immediate questions about whether viewers had seen the last of him on the network.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweeping
Adjective
  • From the Great Hall draped in banners honouring legends from the past that welcomes fans through to the exhaustive Yankee Museum, reminders of the team’s glorious past are everywhere.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 30 July 2026
  • The Netflix film also highlights the FBI’s expansive, exhaustive search for Kaczynski, led by agent Joanne Miller, played by Shailene Woodley.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
Definition of exhaustive

Browse Nearby Words

fulls
full-scale
full steam ahead
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Full-scale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/full-scale. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vacuous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All