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 WebKelsey Kunik, Rd, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2024
Others last week testified that Rush, an aerospace engineer, willingly broke rules while operating an experimental submersible that had not undergone thorough testing in an effort to appeal to wealthy tourists and researchers seeking out deep-sea voyages.
—Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 23 Sep. 2024
While both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala have vowed to protect Social Security benefits, neither have offered a thorough plan that will completely address the $23.2 trillion funding shortfall over the next 75 years.
—Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Sep. 2024
The network has committed to maintaining the panel format thorough the 2024 election, according to both Phillip and Hall.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorough 
Adjective
Supplements from reputable brands participating in thorough testing, including third-party testing and independent lab certification programs, are prioritized.
—Kelsey Kunik, Rd, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2024
Others last week testified that Rush, an aerospace engineer, willingly broke rules while operating an experimental submersible that had not undergone thorough testing in an effort to appeal to wealthy tourists and researchers seeking out deep-sea voyages.
—Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 23 Sep. 2024
While both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala have vowed to protect Social Security benefits, neither have offered a thorough plan that will completely address the $23.2 trillion funding shortfall over the next 75 years.
—Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Sep. 2024
The network has committed to maintaining the panel format thorough the 2024 election, according to both Phillip and Hall.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorough
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thorough.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near thorough
Cite this Entry
“Thorough.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorough. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share