thoroughgoing
adjective
thor·ough·go·ing
ˌthər-ə-ˈgō-iŋ 
ˌthə-rə-,
-ˈgȯ(-)iŋ
: marked by thoroughness or zeal : thorough, complete
thoroughgoing changes
a thoroughgoing traditionalist
thoroughgoingly
adverb
Synonyms
- 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
- thorough
- total
- unadulterated
- unalloyed
- unconditional
- unmitigated
- unqualified
- utter
- very
Examples of thoroughgoing in a Sentence
civil rights advocates are hoping for a thoroughgoing rejection of the proposed bill
a thoroughgoing attempt to solve the puzzle and still no luck
Recent Examples on the Web
Deftly translated from the French by Natasha Lehrer, this début novel offers a thoroughgoing inventory of French complicity with the crimes of Nazi occupiers during the Second World War.
—
Leslie Camhi, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
To this day, Channel One’s thoroughgoing bias (and the viewing public’s motivations for watching) has remained unchanged.
—Ellen Mickiewicz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2014
Still, the sport, with its pronounced hierarchies, its emphasis on discipline, and its fairly thoroughgoing machismo, is arguably coded as conservative.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2024
The United States needs a more thoroughgoing and systematic approach to educational improvement.
—Jal Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2013
See all Example Sentences for thoroughgoing 
Leslie Camhi, The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
To this day, Channel One’s thoroughgoing bias (and the viewing public’s motivations for watching) has remained unchanged.
—Ellen Mickiewicz, Foreign Affairs, 6 Feb. 2014
Still, the sport, with its pronounced hierarchies, its emphasis on discipline, and its fairly thoroughgoing machismo, is arguably coded as conservative.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2024
The United States needs a more thoroughgoing and systematic approach to educational improvement.
—Jal Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2013
See all Example Sentences for thoroughgoing
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thoroughgoing.' 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 thoroughgoing
Cite this Entry
“Thoroughgoing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thoroughgoing. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thoroughgoing
adjective
thor·ough·go·ing
ˌthər-ə-ˈgō-iŋ
ˌthə-rə-
: thorough sense 1, complete
thoroughgoing cooperation
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