perfect 1 of 2

adjective

ˈpər-fikt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
Definition of perfectnext
1
as in ideal
being entirely without fault or flaw a stunningly perfect performance—not the slightest mistake—won her the gold medal in women's figure skating

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complete
having no exceptions or restrictions living in perfect happiness in the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whole
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it I have a perfect recollection of that conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

perfect

2 of 2

verb

pər-ˈfekt How to pronounce perfect (audio)
1
as in to complete
to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done perfected the arrangements for their long-awaited European vacation

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to improve
to make better an art teacher who seems to believe that you can always perfect a painting with some additional brush strokes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word perfect distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of perfect are entire, intact, and whole. While all these words mean "not lacking or faulty in any particular," perfect implies the soundness and the excellence of every part, element, or quality of a thing frequently as an unattainable or theoretical state.

a perfect set of teeth

In what contexts can entire take the place of perfect?

In some situations, the words entire and perfect are roughly equivalent. However, entire implies perfection deriving from integrity, soundness, or completeness of a thing.

the entire Beethoven corpus

When is it sensible to use intact instead of perfect?

While in some cases nearly identical to perfect, intact implies retention of perfection of a thing in its natural or original state.

the boat survived the storm intact

When could whole be used to replace perfect?

While the synonyms whole and perfect are close in meaning, whole suggests a completeness or perfection that can be sought, gained, or regained.

felt like a whole person again after vacation

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 perfect
Adjective
The best team in the NFL heads to Atlanta, looking to remain perfect. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 Charlotte Observer score predictions Alex Zietlow remained perfect last week after choosing the Panthers over the Eagles. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
Petrenko drives the musicians to never stop trying to perfect sound. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 Brady and the team have spent the last year perfecting the new program. — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for perfect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perfect
  1. ideal
  2. complete
  3. whole
  4. finish
  5. improve
  6. flawless
  7. absolute
  8. entire
Adjective
  • On the score, rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane had ideal coverage and the Chiefs brought eight on a blitz.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The town is also an ideal jumping-off point for exploring the surrounding Dolomites, with lifts taking visitors to Seceda and Alpe di Siusi.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of ideal
Adjective
  • Ethiopia’s coffee authority is compiling data, but the process is not complete.
    — Damian Zane, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In practice, that can look like AI pulling together updates from ticketing systems, documentation, source control and incident platforms to give teams a more complete view of progress and risk.
    — Joel Burleson-Davis, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of complete
Adjective
  • The whole idea is for Israel to keep fighting, because endless wars serve Netanyahu to maintain… a constant state of emergency.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The whole joke is that Chandler is really bad at posing for photos.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of whole
Verb
  • All broadcast pairings eventually end, but for Troy Aikman and Joe Buck to finish like this is both needless, and dirty.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The results were better on Monday, as the Heat’s starting unit finished as a plus-three in 12 minutes together.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of finish
Verb
  • The performance of hydrocarbons must be considered as part of a wider system that is simultaneously scaling clean electricity input and improving efficiency across the value chain.
    — H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • In comparison, 58% say state and local governments improve their lives, while 56% say the same of businesses and 77% of charitable and advocacy groups.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of improve
Adjective
  • The results suggested that people who strongly preferred flawless items had more elaborate ideas about what their ideal product was and were sensitive to even small deviations from those ideas.
    — Aprajita Gautam, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Florida wasn’t flawless up front, committing multiple false starts on a day when Sumrall’s team had 55 yards on seven penalites.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of flawless
Adjective
  • The slap on the wrist capped an otherwise strong Celtics debut for the nine-time All-Star, who was putting on an absolute clinic.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The Milanese Suite combines elegance and spaciousness with absolute comfort.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • Charlotte was down by 35 points after three quarters, and the entire fourth quarter amounted to garbage time.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026
  • One of them is José Antonio Bañuelos-Díaz, 42, who applied for citizenship in October 2025 after living in the country for 40 years and spending his entire adult life as a legal permanent resident.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of entire

Browse Nearby Words

perennially
perfect
perfected
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Cite this Entry

“Perfect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perfect. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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