1
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions
had total power over the people of that country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in entire
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it
gave us a total rundown of the events
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thorough
trying all possibilities
this was total war as far as the military was concerned, and no weapons system was off-limits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in sum
a complete amount of something
that's the total for our wheat harvest this year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to number
to have a total of
two and two total four
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to add
to combine (numbers) into a single sum
total all the receipts and tell me how much I owe you
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
a powerful hurricane totaled the house some years ago
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of total
Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026
The museum will also eliminate another twenty-three positions that are currently vacant, bringing the total percentage of positions cut to roughly 10 percent.
—News Desk, Artforum, 29 Jan. 2026
Chase Jordan
january 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
In testing on human teeth that were artificially stained with tea and coffee, the researchers found that a total of four hours of brushing showed visible whitening, while 12 total hours of brushing led to teeth that were nearly 50% whiter than those in a control group.
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Through the New8 deal, eight original series have been greenlit every year, totalling a whopping 24-title catalogue so far.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for total
Adjective
The billions of dollars of oil sent to Cuba from socialist ally Venezuela saved the island’s economy from total collapse following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 29 Jan. 2026
The museum will also eliminate another twenty-three positions that are currently vacant, bringing the total percentage of positions cut to roughly 10 percent.
—News Desk, Artforum, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
In total, that’s a total of 3,081 disruptions from Saturday through Monday at the airport where American Airlines accounts for 90% of flights.
—Chase Jordan
january 27, Charlotte Observer, 27 Jan. 2026
In testing on human teeth that were artificially stained with tea and coffee, the researchers found that a total of four hours of brushing showed visible whitening, while 12 total hours of brushing led to teeth that were nearly 50% whiter than those in a control group.
—New Atlas, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
Western Union records show Villanueva sent 12 payments totaling $1,615 to overseas intermediaries over a five-month period.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Through the New8 deal, eight original series have been greenlit every year, totalling a whopping 24-title catalogue so far.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for total
Recent Examples of Synonyms for total
Adjective
-
The weight of Kelly’s control over Landfair’s life was absolute.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
-
There have been countless examples of bizarre true crimes dramatized for television, but this is a particularly strong entry, anchored by a trio of great performances (Christina Hendricks makes an absolute meal out of her supporting role).—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There’s an entire mindset switch, a complete flip between working as an individual contributor and becoming a leader or manager.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
For the previous ten seconds, a huge green piece of a caterpillar roll had required the curator’s entire attention.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Breece said her office takes on complex cases, and the investigations are intended to be thorough, not quick.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Courts have confirmed that Puerto Rico’s medical licensing system is just as thorough and comprehensive as the USMLE.—
José Sosa-Palacios,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to the latest bound, proved in 2004 by Imre Ruzsa of the Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics in Hungary, a sum of 1020 cosines — that’s a 1 with 20 zeros after it, about the number of molecules in a cubic inch of air — must have a minimum value smaller than about −7.—
Leila Sloman,
Quanta Magazine,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In the last few years, deals have been slower to emerge from the festival, particularly as streamers stopped offering massive sums for films to stock their platforms and as studios cut back on spending.—
Samantha Masunaga,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to a Xerces Society news release accompanying the new data, western monarch populations regularly numbered in the low millions in the 1980s.—
Meg Tanaka,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
At a small liberal-arts college, where a cohort may number fewer than 500 people, admissions officers can also take a stronger hand in assembling a group of students who match the institution’s culture and its vibe while also having very different backgrounds.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The looming departures add pressure to an industry already contending with 350,000 open positions — a shortfall that’s expected to grow in coming years as the nation ages.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The researchers stopped adding new data at specific points and let the model run forward on its own.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
1 Feb. 2026
-
To say much more would be to ruin the wild twists and turns that unfold as the night marches onward.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Hivemind enables defense systems to sense, decide, and act, allowing autonomous platforms to adapt to dynamic environments, avoid threats, and complete missions without human intervention.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Feb. 2026
-
The agency said the case will be handed over to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office for review once the probe is complete.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/total. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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