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
The whole thing reminded me so much of Willow, when Kael’s forces arrive at Tir Asleen and Madmartigan tries to act tough and intimidating despite being badly outnumbered. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026 Parakito specializes in natural, DEET-free, alcohol-free mosquito and tick protection for the whole family. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Noun
Dassen’s comments that Chinese sales will make up around 20% of net sales across the whole of 2026, point to revenue from the country increasing in the second half of 2026 compared to the first. — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 17 July 2026 Each episode feels complete in itself, while still contributing to the whole. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 17 July 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
  • The Ocean Club is a smaller all-suite resort next to a private beach in Sosua, on the north coast of the Dominican Republic.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • The Australian all-female punk band Body Type is a product of the continent’s thriving, incredibly independent DIY movement, which is, sonically, one of the most distinct subcultures in the world.
    — Charles Moss, SPIN, 23 July 2026
Definition of all
Adjective
  • She has been diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an eye disease that causes vision loss, and lupus, a disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs instead of fighting germs, according to court records.
    — Chase Jordan July 30, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • And unlike day one of last season, which saw offensive lineman Bayron Matos get airlifted to a local hospital and cornerback Artie Burns suffer a significant knee injury, the Dolphins emerged healthy.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026
Definition of healthy
Adjective
  • Inside the hammam, an entire hallway is devoted to visually telling their love story through art and historic panels.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • And as much as fans want to overreact to one play, the position switch – remember, Proctor played left tackle his entire career at Alabama – as well as the jump to the NFL can’t be disregarded.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of entire
Noun
  • Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 1 to 4 inches with isolated higher totals to 6 inches through Thursday along the central Gulf Coast from western Florida through southern Louisiana.
    — MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Counting signatures on a separate support letter written by non-STEM faculty, a total of about 3,300 professors are calling for a reinstatement of standardized testing.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of total
Adjective
  • And that, the imperfections of both these teams, and the sense that absolutely anything could happen in Atlanta, is another reason to think that England versus Argentina — at 3pm ET (8pm BST) on Wednesday — should get your undivided attention.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • Each year when Wimbledon rolls around, tennis fans crane their necks and watch their TV screens with undivided attention for a glance at the Royal Box, anxiously awaiting if Kate Middleton will be in attendance.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 5 July 2026
Definition of undivided
Adjective
  • When complaint becomes habitual, one’s attention might automatically drift toward problems; the neural path is well trod.
    — James Davis, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • When South Africa’s Teboho Mokoena blasted home a penalty that leveled things in the 83rd minute and Mercedes-Benz Stadium erupted at an ear-splitting decibel level, any thoughts of The Wave were well and truly forgotten.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
Definition of well
Adjective
  • The cargo vessel struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz north of Oman suffered a complete blackout, according to a report from the Marisks maritime risk management group.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Once their spring blooms are complete, Aggrey meticulously collects the seed pods from the clarkias, gilias and phacelias, processes the seeds and packages them for gifting before the subsequent spring.
    — Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of complete
Noun
  • While North America misses totality, a partial eclipse will be visible across vast regions, including parts of the US and Canada.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Given the totality of those metrics, the United States still has work to do.
    — Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 2 Aug. 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 4 Aug. 2026.

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