wholly

adverb

whol·​ly ˈhō(l)-lē How to pronounce wholly (audio)
Synonyms of wholly
1
: to the full or entire extent : completely
a wholly owned subsidiary
2
: to the exclusion of other things : solely
a book dealing wholly with herbs

Synonyms of wholly

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Examples of wholly in a Sentence

She is wholly devoted to her children. An infant is wholly dependent on its mother. The claim is wholly without merit.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
English clubs, even in the richest league on the planet, routinely lose millions, are subject to wholly inadequate cost control regulations, do not pay dividends, and are increasingly reliant on stakeholders propping them up. — Matt Slater, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 As written by Nattiv and co-writer Noa Berman-Herzberg, Ricki is certainly not a savior, but her aims are also not wholly villainous. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026 Demand for jewelry outside the typical, as a reflection of personality or individual values, sees more buyers searching for ways to create items wholly unique to their tastes. — Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2026 The taxpayer was an individual, but the logic of the case applies equally to corporations (such as loan-out corporations) that render services wholly outside of California, even if paid by a California company. — Schuyler Moore, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wholly

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hoolly, from hool whole

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wholly was in the 14th century

Rhymes for wholly

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Browse Nearby Words

wholistic
wholly
whom
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Cite this Entry

“Wholly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wholly. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

wholly

adverb
whol·​ly ˈhōl-(l)ē How to pronounce wholly (audio)
1
: to the full or entire extent : completely
a wholly different view
2
: to the exclusion of other things : solely
a book devoted wholly to sports cars
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