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

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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 The rules were altered in 2004 at the urging of Algeria, which was struggling to field a competitive national team with wholly domestic players and saw dozens of better prospects from the diaspora living in France. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026 That power is not wholly spent, nor wholly eclipsed, by anti-democratic forces. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026 Which brings us to the second – 20th- and 21st-century – level of Wuthering Heights’ wholly justified fame. — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Her advice felt wholly new at the time. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for wholly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wholly

Adverb

Communists want to end capitalism and replace it with a system where almost all private property is outlawed and the economy is completely run by the state.

— Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 10 July 2026
The north offers something completely different to the south.

— Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026

Definition of completely

Adverb

Meanwhile, Israeli attacks, though lessened, have not fully abated, with near-daily strikes killing at least 1,072 people since the ceasefire took effect.

— Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Looking ahead, 74 percent of retail executives expect to deploy AI at scale within the next 12 months, which places the sector among the fastest across all industries to fully adopt the technology.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

Definition of fully

Adverb

Bond has always been an intriguing vessel; by design, the spy is detached and isolated, a character who can disappear into the shadows and emerge totally fixated on a new mission with his past loves and losses brushed off with ease.

— Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
There’s something powerful about pairing a hundred-year-old heritage object with something that feels totally of-the-moment.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 9 July 2026

Definition of totally

Adverb

Morgenthaler’s version—amaretto and lemon, punched up with a pour of high-proof bourbon, and smoothed out with an egg white—utterly transforms the drink.

— Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
Was that the most incredible goal, in its quality and significance, of an utterly incredible World Cup?

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Definition of utterly

Adverb

Mac still hasn’t quite put everything back together again, even after a rookie season that was eerily close to Nix’s numbers in 2024.

— Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 July 2026
Sure, nothing on the road turns heads quite like a hot rod or vintage vehicle in pristine condition.

— Zachary Hansen, AJC.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of quite

Adverb

The crafty 10th-seeded Czech, whose slices and volleys are perfectly suited to Wimbledon’s low-bouncing surface, carries a medicine cabinet’s worth of remedies to prove that the All England Club’s famous lawns can be a real irritant.

— Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Obama perfectly captured the moral realism that was so prevalent among Cold War liberals.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of perfectly

Adverb

And Harleys has entirely redesigned the rear -suspension and increased its travel 117 per cent to five inches (13 cm).

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
The possibility of disruptions to oil flows via the Strait of Hormuz, however, might not entirely be discounted, which could complicate energy supply calculus.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 6 July 2026

Definition of entirely

Adverb

Bellingham deserves a mention, too; his tireless running in-behind defences has created space for Kane all through the tournament, while his colossal defensive efforts have helped to maintain balance across the team.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Instead of building parts one layer at a time, the system hardens the printing material all at once, producing seamless structures.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026

Definition of all

Browse Nearby Words

whole-souled

wholly

whomp

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“Wholly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wholly. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of wholly

adverb

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