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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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 That’s an ethos wholly rejected by Trump, of course, but one that suits China, at least as rhetoric. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2026 Infinitely more important than a number or a note on a fancy piano, Christian Science teaches that each of us exists as a masterful, one-of-a-kind, and wholly good creation of God. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2026 With impeccable sound design and an eerie score by Ryan and Hays Holladay, Cregger delivers a textured, wholly realized world. — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026 Zauner has described the new memoir as a wholly different writing experience from Crying in H Mart. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wholly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wholly

Adverb

Rooms Splayed across the cliff front and dense, thrumming jungle at the southwestern tip of Bali, the 37 villas that make up the property as of 2026 are each completely unique in design, character and art.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders reacted by condemning the warrants as completely unjustified and a clear proof of the United Nations’ antisemitism.

— Brian Duignan, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of completely

Adverb

There is a lot of debate around in-person, hybrid and fully remote work.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Omelchenko appreciates the study authors’ ability to translate math to real life but notes that fully evaluating the possibilities of new stitches by using torus diagrams would be impractically expensive to compute.

— Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of fully

Adverb

Classes were totally or partially suspended on Tuesday at 891 schools, according to the Education Ministry.

— NICOLAS GARRIGA, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Us Weekly, which used to be a quasi-People magazine and very friendly, turned into something totally different and gossipy.

— Matt Donnelly, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of totally

Adverb

Rather than eliding them, Carson ends up bringing attention to these absences – an utterly distinctive choice.

— Amy Cannon, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
But the quality remains extremely uneven—mathematicians are finding some papers readable and others utterly nonsensical.

— Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of utterly

Adverb

The press release probably didn’t need to also say the company imbued it with distinctive character or charm; that’s quite obvious from the design.

— Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
Nothing, however, has lived on quite like his appreciation for the mundane.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of quite

Adverb

On a blistering surprise EP, Deafheaven find the vicious attack and grandiose drama of symphonic black metal perfectly suited to their purposes.

— Patrick Lyons, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
The Row’s perfectly balanced, Midas-touch accessories, to serve you a lifetime and beyond.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of perfectly

Adverb

At Helen, also downtown in a 1920s-era building, chef Rob McDaniel serves a menu almost entirely cooked over a grill that's inspired by his grandmother's open-fire cooking.

— Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
Its moments of overstatement are entirely human, en route to a lighter, softer state of serenity.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of entirely

Adverb

That decade saw other international debuts, including Sweden, Hong Kong, Australia, France and Japan — places that would enhance the awareness and international visibility of the brand — all by 1968.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Eight years after Crazy Rich Asians made history as the first film by a major Hollywood studio to feature an all-Asian cast, the movie’s stars are reprising their roles for a series heading to HBO.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of wholly

adverb

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