WHOLLY Synonyms: 83 Similar and Opposite Words

wholly

adverb

ˈhō(l)-lē

Definition of wholly

as in completely

to a full extent or degree not wholly convinced by the evidence that the prosecutor presented

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 wholly Its basic proposition was logical to me – that God is divine intelligence, the wholly good, infinite Spirit that creates man spiritually in His likeness. — Suzanne Riedel, Christian Science Monitor, 22 July 2026 While this option will be wholly voluntary, the testing will be incorporated into routine annual physicals of all active military personnel born as male. — Nina Shapiro, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026 Major Gulf cities, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait City and Jeddah, are almost wholly dependent on desalinated water. — Monica Haider, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Luke Bracey, who plays Pa, had a wholly different process being cast in the series. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wholly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wholly

Adverb

Orduno also recommends starting with small strokes and letting the liner dry completely before layering or touching the area to prevent smudging.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026
While home-theater purists will likely still opt for external AV receivers and soundbars, the PX4 Pro is tailored to operate smoothly as a completely standalone cinema center.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 July 2026

Definition of completely

Adverb

Hence, the dissolution of Andriy and Bobby, the Ukrainian and Russian duo who already glommed on to each other in the first two episodes of this season of Project Runway and in this episode collapse fully and phenomenally.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 July 2026
The Saudis can reroute that oil north through the Suez Canal, but the largest, fully laden oil tankers can’t get through that way because of depth constraints, noted Natasha Kaneva, head of global commodities strategy at JPMorgan.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Definition of fully

Adverb

While a new deal was not totally ruled out, The Athletic reported Gueye was deemed more likely to leave than stay this summer, and that Everton were keen to reduce their reliance on the midfielder.

— Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 24 July 2026
The only thing worth changing about the examples above would be to switch out those mini bags for a lap-top-friendly work bag, though adding a pop of color is totally fair game.

— Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 23 July 2026

Definition of totally

Adverb

If Vance now recognizes his comments as churlish, lacking in charity, and utterly unlikely to persuade voters, much less witness to the sublime truths of the Christian religion, good for him.

— Matthew Walther, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
But as yesterday’s race showed, the current F1 machinery is utterly ill-suited to this dramatic venue.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026

Definition of utterly

Adverb

There are few travel wins quite as satisfying as booking a flight for less than dinner out—and Frontier has built a loyal following around exactly that.

— Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 July 2026
Standing on opposite sides of the protests, the pair fall for each other despite the divide, recognizing in one another a restlessness neither can quite name.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 23 July 2026

Definition of quite

Adverb

But unlike the scramble to rescue coral babies a few years back, these corals were still perfectly healthy.

— Alex Harris July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Pushing up, squeezing play and trying to regain the ball in advanced positions is a perfectly viable and often successful strategy, particularly when treated as a useful add-on to quality in possession.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of perfectly

Adverb

Someone unfamiliar with salt bread might even suspect a major baking error, seeing a questionably smooth croissant that entirely missed the lamination process, adorned with only a few flecks of salt acting as its saving grace.

— Candy Hom, AJC.com, 19 July 2026
Cook the potato well—boiling, baking, or frying can help reduce some of the glycoalkaloids, though not entirely.

— Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 19 July 2026

Definition of entirely

Adverb

The Marlins also stayed in an all-too-familiar position on Friday as their losing ways continued with a 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres to begin a three-game series at loanDepot park.

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
The whole point of the Prenga assignment is to keep Joshua sharp and visible for an all-British showdown with Tyson Fury, a fight rumored for a late-2026 date at Wembley.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026

Definition of all

Browse Nearby Words

whole-souled

wholly

whomp

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wholly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wholly. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of wholly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on wholly

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

aerie

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes