EXACTLY Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

exactly

adverb

ig-ˈzak-(t)lē

Definition of exactly

as in just

as stated or indicated without the slightest difference we will meet at exactly six o'clock

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in precisely

in the same manner he wants to be exactly like his father

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in directly

in the same words a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in strictly

without any relaxation of standards or precision follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in quite

to a full extent or degree she listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in yes

used to express agreement "Are you calling me a liar?" "Exactly."

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 exactly During a daytime heist that took place almost exactly one year ago, in October 2025, thieves stole million in French crown jewels collectively valued at $102 million, some of which have still not been recovered. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 Officials are still determining exactly how much cutting will take place. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 What nobody has done is build it in news and daily media, which is exactly where the harm is being done and exactly where people spend their attention every single day. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026 But that’s exactly what happened when Duffield made an overture to author Daniel Kraus about his then-forthcoming book, Whalefall. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exactly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly

Adverb

Completing the flight test just weeks after a captive-carry event demonstrated how quickly the program progressed through its testing sequence.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
The mattress was ready to sleep on just a few hours after unpacking.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of just

Adverb

The story’s main conceit was that scientists discover an Earth-like planet directly opposite our own in the same orbit around the sun, always hidden from our vantage point.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026
Trump posted a video Thursday night that directly called El-Sayed a member of the group, which was founded in Egypt; his administration has designated chapters as terrorist organizations.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of directly

Adverb

Photography and video are strictly forbidden inside, although a photo opp is available.

— Hali Smith October 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 Oct. 2026
The rule wasn’t strictly enforced, of course, but her parents were trying to manage a household where one upset child could set off several others.

— Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of strictly

Adverb

But now, as everything online morphs into algorithmic social media, the case for concern has crystallized into something quite specific.

— Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Few sports have embraced the pursuit of new audiences quite like F1, the motorsport league acquired by Liberty Media nearly a decade ago.

— Sam Jacobs, Time, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of quite

Adverb

Sports account for a major portion of the volume generated by the array of typically yes-or-no question, depending on the platform.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
In August, independent financial economist Lauris Zminsky launched his app Blanket in partnership with Kalshi, an AI engine that can suggest specific yes-or-no markets on the platform that could offset a risk for a specific business.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of yes

Adverb

Yet, Indiana couldn't do anything with it and punted the ball right back.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Late in the third quarter Lagway was forced to scramble to his right before throwing an interception to TCU senior strong safety Jamel Johnson.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of right

Adverb

Rising fuel costs, discontent with the state of schools, declining public services and a housing crisis have created perfectly stormy weather for an autumn of protests in Europe.

— Teresa Medrano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
This process, which generates perfectly crystalline silicon ingots to be sliced like fragile metallic salamis into thin wafers, is entrusted largely to one firm in Taiwan and two in Japan.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of perfectly

Browse Nearby Words

exactitude

exactly

exactness

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of exactly

adverb

Example Sentences

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