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
Today, many operate in a precarious position, almost wholly dependent on philanthropy to meet annual budget needs.
—
Glenn Davis, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Those are harsh analogies but not wholly inapt ones.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
Not a remake, Silent Hill f is an excellent and wholly original game in the acclaimed survival horror franchise.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
Musgraves’ chameleon soul is clearly her superpower, as none of those new terrains have ever felt wholly out of place for her.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wholly
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Glenn Davis, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Those are harsh analogies but not wholly inapt ones.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 1 May 2026
Not a remake, Silent Hill f is an excellent and wholly original game in the acclaimed survival horror franchise.
—George Yang, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
Musgraves’ chameleon soul is clearly her superpower, as none of those new terrains have ever felt wholly out of place for her.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 Apr. 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 6 May. 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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