thoroughly

adverb

thor·ough·ly ˈthər-(ˌ)ō-lē

sometimes ˈthȯr-;

ˈthə-(ˌ)rō-

Synonyms of thoroughly

: in a complete or thorough manner

Police thoroughly searched the crime scene for clues.

Bats are extremely tidy: they comb themselves thoroughly, and don't gather a mess of nesting materials for their homes, as birds do.—Diane Ackerman

: to a complete or thorough extent

We were thoroughly satisfied with the service we received.

thoroughly disgusted/delighted

By taking all the tricks in the game, one defeats the opponent so thoroughly that he may be disconcerted …—Craig M. Carver

Examples of thoroughly in a Sentence

they researched the issue thoroughly before deciding how to vote I am thoroughly satisfied with her explanation of the events of that evening

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.

The brand’s Peptide Detox shampoo, which adsorbs hard water deposits to thoroughly clean hair, has amassed 238,000 impressions on TikTok this month and can consistently be found topping the app’s section for popular searches. — Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 Make sure the stains are thoroughly soaked, then wait 10 minutes. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2026 Residents are also being encouraged to wash their hands thoroughly and watch for coughing and eye irritation in people and pets. — Lana Zak, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 As America’s 200th birthday approached on July 4, 1976, the Gibsons started to more thoroughly explore potential moneymaking opportunities with their balloon. — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for thoroughly

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of thoroughly was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Thoroughly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thoroughly. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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thoroughly

adverb

Synonyms of thoroughly

Examples of thoroughly in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

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