WHOLE Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'whole' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of whole are all , entire , and total . While all these words mean "including everything or everyone without exception," whole implies that nothing has been omitted, ignored, abated, or taken away. // read the whole book

Q: How is 'all' related to other words for 'whole'?

All may equal whole , entire , or total . // all proceeds go to charity

Q: When could 'entire' be used to replace 'whole'?

The words entire and whole are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, entire may suggest a state of completeness or perfection to which nothing can be added. // the entire population was wiped out

Q: When would 'total' be a good substitute for 'whole'?

While in some cases nearly identical to whole , total implies that everything has been counted, weighed, measured, or considered. // the total number of people present

whole 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhōl

Definition of whole next

as in all

not divided or scattered among several areas of interest or concern you'll need to put your whole effort into this project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in healthy

enjoying health and vigor whole and happy again after months of recuperation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in entire

not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it the puzzle isn't quite whole, but close enough

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whole

2 of 2

noun

as in total

a complete amount of something the landlord eventually refunded the whole of our deposit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word whole distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of whole are all, entire, and total. While all these words mean "including everything or everyone without exception," whole implies that nothing has been omitted, ignored, abated, or taken away.

read the whole book

How is all related to other words for whole?

All may equal whole, entire, or total.

all proceeds go to charity

When could entire be used to replace whole?

The words entire and whole are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, entire may suggest a state of completeness or perfection to which nothing can be added.

the entire population was wiped out

When would total be a good substitute for whole?

While in some cases nearly identical to whole, total implies that everything has been counted, weighed, measured, or considered.

the total number of people present

Examples of whole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

KitchenAid offers a wide variety of attachments that convert the machine into, essentially, whole other appliances. —

Noah Kaufman, Bon Appétit, 8 Oct. 2024 Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and oily fish can benefit many aspects of health, including blood pressure levels. —

Lindsey Desoto, Health, 8 Oct. 2024

Noun

Emily Le Coz: So, the maritime shipping industry is, on the whole, a very dangerous industry. —

Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024 The works in the show involve actual art and actual science, and the whole is more than the sum of its parts. —

Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for whole

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whole.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.