total 1 of 3

adjective

ˈtō-tᵊl How to pronounce total (audio)
Definition of totalnext
1
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions had total power over the people of that country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in entire
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it gave us a total rundown of the events

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thorough
trying all possibilities this was total war as far as the military was concerned, and no weapons system was off-limits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

total

2 of 3

noun

as in sum
a complete amount of something that's the total for our wheat harvest this year

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

total

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to number
to have a total of two and two total four

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to add
to combine (numbers) into a single sum total all the receipts and tell me how much I owe you

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of a powerful hurricane totaled the house some years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word total distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of total are all, entire, and whole. While all these words mean "including everything or everyone without exception," total implies that everything has been counted, weighed, measured, or considered.

the total number of people present

How does the word all relate to other synonyms for total?

All may equal whole, entire, or total.

all proceeds go to charity

When can entire be used instead of total?

In some situations, the words entire and total are roughly equivalent. However, entire may suggest a state of completeness or perfection to which nothing can be added.

the entire population was wiped out

Where would whole be a reasonable alternative to total?

While in some cases nearly identical to total, whole implies that nothing has been omitted, ignored, abated, or taken away.

read the whole book

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 total
Adjective
Per Rawlings, all infielders and outfielders are required to play in the field for at least 750 total innings through his team’s 138th game to be considered for a Gold Glove. — Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 The special event was a total lunar eclipse, with the best viewing from Australia and other Pacific regions. — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
Walker nearly eclipsed those rushing totals in the Governors’ season-opening win over Portage last week with six carries for 33 yards. — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 In total, Watson and his legal team settled or resolved 27 lawsuits. — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
The suspects were ordered to turn over $37 million, as well as pay fines totaling over $105,000. — News Desk, Artforum, 26 Aug. 2026 In 2025, Meta’s revenue totaled roughly $200 billion and its net profit was roughly $60 billion. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for total
Recent Examples of Synonyms for total
  1. absolute
  2. entire
  3. thorough
  4. sum
  5. number
  6. add
  7. ruin
  8. complete
Adjective
  • Keep in mind that this isn’t an absolute confirmation of a series production Slantnose 911.
    — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The largest fish had a considerably lower absolute speed than its smaller cousins.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • Therefore, analysts note that if extreme weather worsens water and power scarcity, the impact could ripple through the entire semiconductor supply chain.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Still, there’s a kind of hip, comfort food aspect to the entire enterprise that keeps it an easy, if slightly cluttered and overlong watch.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of entire
Adjective
  • The author specifically praised Reficco over her thorough research on epilepsy in an effort to offer an authentic portrayal.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Lawsuits have accused Lyft of failing to perform more thorough background checks on prospective drivers, maintaining in-car surveillance and enforcing zero-tolerance policies against drivers.
    — Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of thorough
Noun
  • Billionaires can volunteer large sums of cash without being forced to do so.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The law helps level the playing field somewhat by letting candidates make their cases to voters who watch broadcast TV without needing to raise exorbitant sums of money.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of sum
Verb
  • Psalm 23 is numbered Psalm 22 in the Greek Septuagint and Latin Vulgate because of differences in how the psalms are divided and numbered.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Watchlist volume jumps an average of 40 times for Unreleased Gems titles specifically, according to figures Letterboxd has publicly cited, numbers a filmmaker can point to that a skeptical buyer can’t wave away.
    — Joshua Encinias, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of number
Verb
  • Instead, choose textured or handmade-look ceramics to add dimension.
    — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026
  • City restaurants remain heavily weighted toward lunch, while suburban locations can approach an even lunch-dinner split and draw more families, prompting NAYA to add kids’ meals and develop family meals.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of add
Verb
  • But if clouds ruin your view — or the moon is below the horizon at the time of the eclipse — there's no need to fret!
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The news of the relationship almost ruined the church, which quickly began hemorrhaging members.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of ruin
Adjective
  • To defeat Iran would be a complete victory, not only for Israel but for the entire Middle East.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Those tests should reveal how well the modular architecture performs once individual components operate as part of a complete launcher.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of complete

Phrases Containing total

Browse Nearby Words

tot
total
totaled
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Cite this Entry

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

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