exactly

adverb

ig-ˈzak-(t)lē How to pronounce exactly (audio)
Definition of exactlynext
1
as in just
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference we will meet at exactly six o'clock

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in precisely
in the same manner he wants to be exactly like his father

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
4
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
5
as in quite
to a full extent or degree she listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
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 Nor did his spectacular $25 million Venice wedding to Lauren exactly soften the optics. — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026 Still, exactly how many Venezuelans could be affected by De la Espriella’s order remains unclear. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 Sometimes, hearing those three words is exactly the reassurance someone needs. — Barton Goldsmith, AJC.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Once the helicopter crew had those coordinates, the pilot finally knew exactly where to find us. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
  1. just
  2. precisely
  3. directly
  4. strictly
  5. quite
  6. yes
  7. right
  8. perfectly
Adverb
  • But his record of publicly interacting with Piker — including at a pool party just before the primary — remains a sore point among some Michigan Democrats.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Search and rescue efforts are only just beginning, and these first hours are filled with uncertainty, but also with hope.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of just
Adverb
  • Yet, water and electricity are precisely the two critical resources that the AI and semiconductor industries rely on heavily.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than simply reducing opponents’ health, players seek to break opponents’ posture by precisely deflecting and countering attacks.
    — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of precisely
Adverb
  • The gracious master of ceremonies gave me the place of honor in the line-up, directly behind him, with Reiffer and the two shikaris bringing up the rear.
    — Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Fuel for a compact subcritical reactor The fuel development project is directly connected to AMPERA’s plans for a subcritical micronuclear reactor platform.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of directly
Adverb
  • Is this chatty attitude appropriate for a strictly business call?
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Just for the same exact reason why details should not be strictly decorative.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of strictly
Adverb
  • It's been quite a disappointing year for home shoppers who waited since 2023 for rates to cool off.
    — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • However, the approach is marred by low throughput, and the process is also quite complex to execute.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of quite
Adverb
  • The answer is yes, but only when PREVENT risk is classified as borderline or intermediate.
    — Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Answer anything other than yes, and the system returns your call to the 911 queue for a human call-taker.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of yes
Adverb
  • Well, right after that, something happened between us on set.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Other Giants pitchers on the IL include Matt Gage (left elbow strain), Trevor McDonald (right elbow strain), and Keaton Winn (right elbow neuritis).
    — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of right
Adverb
  • Before Gould arrived, Gates’s team spent the day installing — making sure every bedspread, headboard, desk arrangement, lamp and, of course, the umbrella were perfectly in place.
    — Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Mia Wasikowska perfectly embodies the role of Agata, a writer returning to her home continent, seeking to understand and reconnect with the wounds of the recent past, and with the ways in which unresolved conflicts continue to echo in the present.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of perfectly

Browse Nearby Words

exactitude
exactly
exactness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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