Wholly
What it means
Completely and without leaving any part or reservation.
Reach for it when emphasizing total extent, inclusion, or commitment
The new entrance is wholly accessible from the street.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| professional | |
| formal |
|
| literary |
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everyday
completely
Fits when total extent should be stated plainly
Careful Completely can modify completion or condition without the formal emphasis of wholly.
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professional
entirely
Fits when every part of the statement or object is included
Careful Entirely is neutral and may fit where wholly sounds emphatic or old-fashioned.
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professional
fully
Fits when degree or participation reaches the intended limit
Careful Fully can mean adequately rather than absolutely.
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formal
altogether
Fits when considering the whole or reaching a total conclusion
Careful Altogether can mean on the whole and may be less absolute.
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formal
without reservation
Fits when complete agreement or support is the exact meaning
Careful The phrase applies to attitudes, not physical completeness or accessibility.
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literary
utterly
Fits when emotional emphasis on completeness is intended
Careful Utterly often intensifies negative judgments and can sound dramatic.
Opposites 3
- partly
- partially
- incompletely
Common phrases 3
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wholly owned
The workshop is wholly owned by its employees.
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wholly committed
She remained wholly committed while revising the method when evidence changed.
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wholly appropriate
The gentle humor was wholly appropriate for the memorial's closing story.
Word family 1
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated