thor·ough
ˈthər-(ˌ)ō 
sometimes ˈthȯr-;
ˈthə-(ˌ)rō
1
: carried through to completion : exhaustive
a thorough search
2
a
: marked by full detail
a thorough description
b
: careful about detail : painstaking
a thorough scholar
c
: complete in all respects
thorough pleasure
d
: having full mastery (as of an art)
a thorough musician
thoroughness
noun
archaic
: through
Synonyms
Adjective
- absolute
- all-out
- arrant
- blank
- blooming [chiefly British]
- bodacious [Southern & Midland]
- categorical
- categoric
- clean
- complete
- consummate
- crashing
- damn
- damned
- dead
- deadly
- definite
- downright
- dreadful
- fair
- flat
- flat-out
- out-and-out
- outright
- perfect
- plumb
- profound
- pure
- rank
- regular
- sheer
- simple
- stark
- stone
- straight-out
- thoroughgoing
- total
- unadulterated
- unalloyed
- unconditional
- unmitigated
- unqualified
- utter
- very
Examples of thorough in a Sentence
Adjective
… one realized that it was the restaurant's thorough and even comic Frenchness that had made it so entirely New York.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2004
Bruce tells me to squat down and Koani sidles up, ears flattened, tail tucked away, and gives my face a thorough licking.
—Nicholas Evans, Daily Telegraph, 26 Sept. 1998
The job was uncharacteristically thorough for a Russian contract killing—three different types of bullets riddled Mikho's body.
—New Republic, 15 Dec. 1997
a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations
The investigator will have to be thorough.
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2004
Bruce tells me to squat down and Koani sidles up, ears flattened, tail tucked away, and gives my face a thorough licking.
—Nicholas Evans, Daily Telegraph, 26 Sept. 1998
The job was uncharacteristically thorough for a Russian contract killing—three different types of bullets riddled Mikho's body.
—New Republic, 15 Dec. 1997
a thorough understanding of the rules and regulations
The investigator will have to be thorough.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dean Ben-Zour, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Deep clean fabrics as needed: Stocking and tree skirts will probably need a thorough cleaning by the end of the season.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2024
The sightings have become so numerous that one New Jersey lawmaker suggested all drones be grounded until a thorough investigation can be completed.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
The authorities’ commitment to conduct a thorough investigation is an essential step in shedding light on the facts, strengthening preventive measures and ensuring justice.
—Adam Leventhal, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorough 
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Adjective
The key is conducting thorough research to identify the platforms that perform best in your market.
—Dean Ben-Zour, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Deep clean fabrics as needed: Stocking and tree skirts will probably need a thorough cleaning by the end of the season.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2024
The sightings have become so numerous that one New Jersey lawmaker suggested all drones be grounded until a thorough investigation can be completed.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
The authorities’ commitment to conduct a thorough investigation is an essential step in shedding light on the facts, strengthening preventive measures and ensuring justice.
—Adam Leventhal, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorough
Dictionary Entries Near thorough
Cite this Entry
“Thorough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorough. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.
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