thoroughly

adverb

thor·​ough·​ly ˈthər-(ˌ)ō-lē 

 sometimes  ˈthȯr-;

ˈthə-(ˌ)rō-

: in a complete or thorough manner

Police thoroughly searched the crime scene for clues.

Bats are extremely tidy: they comb themselves thoroughly, and don't gather a mess of nesting materials for their homes, as birds do.

—Diane Ackerman

: to a complete or thorough extent

We were thoroughly satisfied with the service we received.

thoroughly disgusted/delighted

By taking all the tricks in the game, one defeats the opponent so thoroughly that he may be disconcerted …

—Craig M. Carver

Synonyms

• completely
• comprehensively
• detailedly
• exhaustively
• fully
• inside out
• minutely
• roundly
• sweepingly
• systematically
• through and through
• totally

Examples of thoroughly in a Sentence

they researched the issue thoroughly before deciding how to vote

I am thoroughly satisfied with her explanation of the events of that evening

Recent Examples on the Web

Shake thoroughly to blend the smoky and sweet flavors, then strain the cocktail into a coupe glass. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

Tom's said the black substance was located in an area that was hard to reach and prone to moisture, but that it has since thoroughly been cleaned. —Ayana Archie, NPR, 20 Nov. 2024

Aryan brings a bold and dynamic directorial vision, and has created something truly one-of-a-kind and thoroughly entertaining. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Nov. 2024

Growing up with a Black mom and grandma, I was conditioned to associate a few key things with femininity: a thoroughly lotioned and glistening body, gold jewelry, and always smelling amazing. —Annie Blay, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above