1
: to the full or entire extent : completely
a wholly owned subsidiary
2
: to the exclusion of other things : solely
a book dealing wholly with herbs
Examples of wholly in a Sentence
She is wholly devoted to her children.
An infant is wholly dependent on its mother.
The claim is wholly without merit.
Recent Examples on the Web
Even so, Zhang said, dementia is a complex condition that can’t be wholly prevented by dietary intervention.
—
Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
But Webb’s direct level of involvement is still wholly unclear.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
The island of Bequia (pronounced Bek-way) – the largest of the Grenadines, but only seven square miles – feels wholly Caribbean.
—Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
At the same time, Balanchine and his peers understood that modern American dance was wholly indebted to Russian artists, whose innovations had established key principles and standards.
—Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wholly
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Lindsey Leake, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
But Webb’s direct level of involvement is still wholly unclear.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 7 Feb. 2026
The island of Bequia (pronounced Bek-way) – the largest of the Grenadines, but only seven square miles – feels wholly Caribbean.
—Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 5 Feb. 2026
At the same time, Balanchine and his peers understood that modern American dance was wholly indebted to Russian artists, whose innovations had established key principles and standards.
—Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wholly
Cite this Entry
“Wholly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wholly. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wholly
adverb
whol·ly
ˈhōl-(l)ē 
1
: to the full or entire extent : completely
a wholly different view
2
: to the exclusion of other things : solely
a book devoted wholly to sports cars
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