thorough

adjective

ˈthər-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce thorough (audio)
Definition of thoroughnext
1
as in complete
having no exceptions or restrictions had thorough access to the files for her research

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in detailed
including many small descriptive features thorough analysis of the current crisis in Asia

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in extensive
trying all possibilities a thorough search of the office that turned up no evidence of wrongdoing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in comprehensive
covering everything or all important points a very thorough textbook on respiratory disorders

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 thorough Rather than straightforward realism, Corn shows American Gothic to be the product of a thorough engagement with pattern and form. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 But eventually, Eisenkot would disappoint any overseas Israel supporters who expect a thorough reversal of Netanyahu’s foreign and Palestinian policies. — Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026 The mayor’s office has implemented a tiny fraction of the efficiencies identified by a thorough Ernst & Young report on opportunities for such prior to last year’s budget drama. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 Start your winter prep by giving them a thorough soak to ensure their roots are well-hydrated for the colder months ahead. — Macie Stump, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thorough
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thorough
  1. complete
  2. detailed
  3. extensive
  4. comprehensive
  5. simple
  6. full
  7. exhaustive
  8. unconditional
Adjective
  • Ethiopia’s coffee authority is compiling data, but the process is not complete.
    — Damian Zane, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In practice, that can look like AI pulling together updates from ticketing systems, documentation, source control and incident platforms to give teams a more complete view of progress and risk.
    — Joel Burleson-Davis, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of complete
Adjective
  • The ministry did not disclose the missile’s flight time or provide detailed results from the test.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Likely no detailed stories of what happened to them and why have been passed down through the generations.
    — Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of detailed
Adjective
  • Spring water had to be channeled to collection areas, and then toward Solomon’s Pools, an extensive water-storage complex built south of Bethlehem.
    — Michele Chabin, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
  • After being closed for extensive renovations, the property is planning a grand re-opening for Spring 2025.
    — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of extensive
Adjective
  • However, the database is far from comprehensive and represents about a fifth of Homeland Security's workforce, which staffs a little more than 220,000 people.
    — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The others asserted vested development rights and reliance on county representations, leaving only the comprehensive plan challenge, which asserted that commissioners wrongly rejected housing that complied with the county’s growth policies.
    — Sarah Kinbar, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of comprehensive
Adjective
  • The actor wore a long black leather coat over a simple black tank, paired with straight-leg blue jeans cinched with a leather belt.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The company played with flexible workdays instead of rigid schedules, clearer windows for collaboration, simpler rules for meetings, better ways to share and document work, and more intentional reasons for coming together in person.
    — Deborah Lovich, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • As of Friday morning, with a full day left to vote early in the state of Georgia, the records were already falling.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026
  • James uses this potential fault as a guiding principle of his writing for the Disklavier, full of crisply interlocking ostinatos.
    — Andy Cush, Pitchfork, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of full
Adjective
  • There is no exhaustive review of AI maturity in the industry, but surveys suggest that many companies hit a wall with their pilot projects, leaving them at stage two.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Each photograph’s staging is meticulous, and there is an almost exhaustive attempt to interweave the agent’s narratives with the visual language of each image.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhaustive
Adjective
  • In the primary, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee courted Ford for a possible endorsement but ultimately found policy differences with him, Ford said, including his declining to support unconditional military aid to Israel.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The word agape means selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love.
    — Josh Taylor, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of unconditional

Browse Nearby Words

thorny
thorough
thoroughbred
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Thorough.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thorough. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All