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.
Producers who dedicated much of their careers to Love Productions, the respected company wholly acquired by Sky in 2020. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026 With no military, Iceland is wholly dependent on that promise. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026 Within the oeuvre of the Muppets’ cinematic and televisual work, Miss Piggy hasn’t ever wholly been a punch line — her image is too dexterous for that. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026 As rookies in 2022, Mike LaFleur was a first-time play caller from the Kyle Shanahan tree devoted wholly to his scheme. — Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 26 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 1 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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