Synonyms of total

total 1 of 3

adjective

ˈtō-tᵊl 

1

as in absolute

having no exceptions or restrictions

had total power over the people of that country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• absolute
• complete
• sheer
• utter
• unconditional
• pure
• simple
• definite
• outright
• perfect
• real
• damn
• huge
• unmitigated
• very
• damned
• profound
• unadulterated
• categorical
• regular
• endless
• deadly
• thoroughgoing
• constant
• thorough
• blank
• downright
• unqualified
• rank
• dreadful
• fair
• crashing
• consummate
• all-out
• stark
• genuine
• clean
• plumb
• out-and-out
• flat-out
• straight-out
• flat
• dead
• perpetual
• unalloyed
• eternal
• arrant
• blooming
• bodacious
• stone
• extreme
• veritable
• horrible
• terrible
• authentic
• main
• classic
• unrestricted
• supreme
• unremitting
• undying
• extraordinary
• hopeless
• habitual
• confirmed
• terrific
• superlative
• inveterate
• surpassing
• frightful

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uncertain
• restricted
• doubtful
• questionable
• qualified
• dubious
• equivocal

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

• entire
• whole
• complete
• full
• comprehensive
• perfect
• grand
• integral
• intact
• plenary
• maximal
• extensive
• compleat
• uncut
• unabridged
• exhaustive
• undiminished
• full-on
• full-scale
• all-out
• full-blown
• full-out
• full-fledged
• full-bore
• full-blooded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• partial
• incomplete
• imperfect
• cut
• reduced
• diminished
• abbreviated
• abridged

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

• thorough
• complete
• extensive
• comprehensive
• sweeping
• exhaustive
• full-scale
• thoroughgoing
• systematic
• all-out
• out-and-out
• clean
• wide
• general
• global
• inclusive
• broad
• methodical
• far-reaching
• in-depth
• wide-ranging
• unrestrained
• no-holds-barred
• unhampered

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• random
• haphazard
• aimless
• desultory
• superficial
• limited
• cursory
• shallow
• restricted
• narrow
• hit-or-miss
• slipshod

total

2 of 3

noun

as in sum

a complete amount of something

that's the total for our wheat harvest this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sum
• totality
• full
• whole
• aggregate
• summation
• sum total
• bulk
• grand total
• entirety
• the whole bit
• the whole shebang
• the whole nine yards
• the whole kit and caboodle
• gross
• completeness
• comprehensiveness
• cumulativeness
• mass
• enchilada
• schmear
• lion's share

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• net

total

3 of 3

verb

1

as in to number

to have a total of

two and two total four

Synonyms & Similar Words

• number
• average
• aggregate
• count (up to)
• sum (to or into)
• comprise
• amount (to)
• come (to)
• reach
• add up (to)
• measure
• constitute
• clock in at
• equal
• make up
• compose

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

• add
• sum
• count
• calculate
• number
• cast (up)
• compute
• totalize
• summate
• put together
• foot (up)
• tote (up)
• tot (up)
• table
• tabulate
• tally
• figure
• cipher
• work out
• tell
• reckon
• enumerate
• recompute
• refigure

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

• ruin
• destroy
• wreck
• demolish
• shatter
• devastate
• damage
• waste
• overcome
• smash
• tear down
• cream
• annihilate
• decimate
• pull down
• desolate
• rub out
• vaporize
• extinguish
• best
• mar
• defeat
• erode
• pulverize
• cripple
• ravage
• crush
• wrack
• blast
• break
• kill
• nuke
• raze
• master
• rout
• remove
• dismantle
• do in
• spoil
• conquer
• harm
• injure
• impair
• subdue
• prevail (over)
• triumph (over)
• lick
• trim
• sack
• sweep (away)
• havoc
• win (against)
• slaughter
• wash out
• eradicate
• surmount
• take down
• dynamite
• dissolve
• cut down
• scotch
• disintegrate
• wear (away)
• blow up
• wipe out
• deteriorate
• vitiate
• beat
• undo
• whip
• fell
• obliterate
• thrash
• loot
• gut
• overmatch
• mutilate
• blot out
• plunder
• wallop
• massacre
• stamp (out)
• disfigure
• murder
• exterminate
• scour
• mangle
• liquidate
• root (out)
• overbear
• expunge
• mow (down)
• clobber
• trash
• extirpate
• pillage
• deface
• kill off
• assassinate
• trample
• trounce
• take out
• skunk
• dispatch
• snuff (out)
• disassemble
• unmake
• execute
• butcher
• slay
• drub
• zap
• efface
• despoil
• dilapidate
• vandalize
• unbuild

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• build
• construct
• set up
• raise
• rear
• create
• form
• repair
• patch
• put up
• erect
• produce
• make
• fix
• constitute
• found
• shape
• manufacture
• establish
• bring about
• frame
• save
• fashion
• assemble
• protect
• organize
• mend
• mold
• invent
• preserve
• institute
• revamp
• fabricate
• restore
• forge
• doctor
• conserve
• recondition
• rebuild
• reconstruct
• father
• remodel
• renovate

Synonym Chooser

How is the word total distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of total are all, entire, and whole. While all these words mean "including everything or everyone without exception," total implies that everything has been counted, weighed, measured, or considered.

the total number of people present

How does the word all relate to other synonyms for total?

All may equal whole, entire, or total.

all proceeds go to charity

When can entire be used instead of total?

In some situations, the words entire and total are roughly equivalent. However, entire may suggest a state of completeness or perfection to which nothing can be added.

the entire population was wiped out

Where would whole be a reasonable alternative to total?

While in some cases nearly identical to total, whole implies that nothing has been omitted, ignored, abated, or taken away.

read the whole book

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of total

Adjective

Last year, humanity’s total fertility level dropped below what demographers call the replacement rate—that is, the average number of children that a woman must have to keep a population constant over the long run. — Jesús Fernández-Villaverde, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2026

While Miller didn’t know its total weight, just the top of that arch is more than a ton. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

Noun

Heavy rain on Sunday in parts of southern Texas is prompting flash-flood threats that are expected to stretch into Monday and could produce rainfall totals of 7 to 9 inches. — ABC News, 8 Nov. 2026

The Hurricanes carried a 7-0 lead into the second intermission after forwards Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho and defenseman Alexander Nikishin added to the total. — Kalen Lumpkins, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026

Verb

Schwake totaled two saves for Nashville, which went 8-0-8 at home during its inaugural 2020 season. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Rwanda’s exposure is far smaller, with US imports from the country totaling about $44 million last year. — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Phrases Containing total

• grand total
• sum total