whole 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhōl How to pronounce whole (audio)
Definition of wholenext
1
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
2
as in healthy
enjoying health and vigor whole and happy again after months of recuperation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in entire
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it the puzzle isn't quite whole, but close enough

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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 whole
Adjective
Missouri led the whole game until late in the third quarter, when the Longhorns began a 21-0 run. — Pj Green november 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026 What’s certain is that if reporters and news outlets don’t, a whole slew of creators will be there to take their place. — Mia Sato, The Verge, 8 Nov. 2026
Noun
When eaten whole and in appropriate portions, both fiber-rich foods can be part of a healthy diet for blood sugar management. — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2026 Pre-cut produce also spoils faster and often costs more than buying the same item whole. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whole
  1. all
  2. healthy
  3. entire
  4. total
  5. undivided
  6. well
  7. complete
  8. totality
Adjective
  • In the public all-gender bathroom, there is a changing table and high chairs are available at the restaurant.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The rest of the incumbents on the nine-member, all-Democratic board were unopposed in the 2026 general election.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of all
Adjective
  • Her wish list included healthy trees, an extra bedroom for visitors and a house that was either newly built or recently renovated.
    — Heather Senison, New York Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Vaccination is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and certain complications in older adults with healthy immune systems.
    — Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of healthy
Adjective
  • The Fort Worth and Fort Collins shows—the former the only 1976 show ever officially pressed to vinyl, the latter released to streaming services without notice a week before the box’s arrival—are instant classics of Dylan’s entire live oeuvre.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Consider this your chance to improve your entire bed's comfort for less.
    — Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of entire
Noun
  • His points total broke a longstanding FHSAA state meet record in Saturday’s Class 4A championships meet at the Florida Aquatics Swimming Training (FAST) center in Ocala.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The question, posed during an on-court postgame interview, was when a young player stops measuring his performance by his point total and starts measuring it by the result.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of total
Adjective
  • Lots of undivided attention, positive reinforcement, love, affection, and pride when my kids were successful.
    — Lauren Gelman, Parents, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The following morning, Greenland was still there, still demanding my undivided attention.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of undivided
Adjective
  • Rest assured, all is well with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl ring.
    — Andrew Destin, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Her roommates, in their graying union suits, seemed happy enough with well water.
    — Claire Carusillo, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of well
Adjective
  • Lead author Samantha Gilbert-Janizek expanded the model to include those missing systems, creating a more complete picture of how chemicals move throughout a rocky planet.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • As the Moon joins Mars in Leo, creative courage may arrive before complete confidence.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of complete
Noun
  • In Spain, the 12 August band of totality cut across the north of the country; the center line of the shadow passed within 11 kilometers of Pico Trigaza, promising Druckmüller and his colleagues a precious 107 seconds of totality.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Historical cloud cover is exceptionally low, while totality reaches around five and a half minutes near the centerline.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of totality

Phrases Containing whole

Browse Nearby Words

who's whos
whole
wholehearted
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Cite this Entry

“Whole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whole. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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