comprehensive
adjective
com·pre·hen·sive
ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv 
-prē-
1
: covering completely or broadly : inclusive
comprehensive examinations
comprehensive insurance
2
: having or exhibiting wide mental grasp
comprehensive knowledge
comprehensively
adverb
comprehensiveness
noun
Examples of comprehensive in a Sentence
Natalie's every move was photographed, a documentation of a happy childhood as comprehensive as it was false.
—
John Gregory Dunne, New York Review of Books, 15 Jan. 2004
Inevitably, though, in so comprehensive an account, some important events and themes are cursorily checked off …
—Isabel Fonseca, Times Literary Supplement, 29 Jan. 1993
Walcott proceeded to misinterpret these fossils in a comprehensive and thoroughly consistent manner …
—Stephen Jay Gould, Wonderful Life, 1989
a comprehensive overview of European history since the French Revolution
a comprehensive listing of all the paintings generally attributed to the Dutch artist Rembrandt
John Gregory Dunne, New York Review of Books, 15 Jan. 2004
Inevitably, though, in so comprehensive an account, some important events and themes are cursorily checked off …
—Isabel Fonseca, Times Literary Supplement, 29 Jan. 1993
Walcott proceeded to misinterpret these fossils in a comprehensive and thoroughly consistent manner …
—Stephen Jay Gould, Wonderful Life, 1989
a comprehensive overview of European history since the French Revolution
a comprehensive listing of all the paintings generally attributed to the Dutch artist Rembrandt
Recent Examples on the Web
This comprehensive program features more than 70 microlearning modules that can be accessed through the RockED mobile app.
—Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Researchers distributed email surveys to 80,000 licensed hunters and another 80,000 landowners in the subject states, and over 1,200 active conservation officers were also surveyed in an effort to get a comprehensive view of attitudes about and estimations of the prevalence of poaching.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
Without comprehensive visibility and contextual insight, sensitive or regulated data can slip into pipelines never intended to process it, let alone share it.
—Asaf Kochan, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
During her tenure, council passed the Unified Development Ordinance, which is a comprehensive zoning and land development rulebook intended to guide future growth.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comprehensive
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.
Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Researchers distributed email surveys to 80,000 licensed hunters and another 80,000 landowners in the subject states, and over 1,200 active conservation officers were also surveyed in an effort to get a comprehensive view of attitudes about and estimations of the prevalence of poaching.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
Without comprehensive visibility and contextual insight, sensitive or regulated data can slip into pipelines never intended to process it, let alone share it.
—Asaf Kochan, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
During her tenure, council passed the Unified Development Ordinance, which is a comprehensive zoning and land development rulebook intended to guide future growth.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for comprehensive
Cite this Entry
“Comprehensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/comprehensive. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
comprehensive
adjective
com·pre·hen·sive
ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen(t)-siv
: including much or all : full
a comprehensive course of study
a comprehensive list
comprehensiveness
noun
Legal Definition
comprehensive
adjective
com·pre·hen·sive
ˌkäm-pri-ˈhen-siv
: covering completely or broadly
a comprehensive insurance policy
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share