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
Still, Brooks’s turn away from politics and toward a more therapeutic project has not been wholly unhelpful.
—
Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Making matters worse, the Blueprint is wholly inappropriate for many of Maryland’s counties.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026
Adapted by Nesbo from his fifth Harry Hole mystery (The Snowman was the seventh), Detective Hole is padded by several episodes, and the finale arrives at a conclusion that is somewhere between illogical and wholly ludicrous.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
According to the Exiger executive, these developments were not wholly unexpected given the prolific nature of China’s manufacturing sector, which powers the second-largest population in the world.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wholly
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Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Making matters worse, the Blueprint is wholly inappropriate for many of Maryland’s counties.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026
Adapted by Nesbo from his fifth Harry Hole mystery (The Snowman was the seventh), Detective Hole is padded by several episodes, and the finale arrives at a conclusion that is somewhere between illogical and wholly ludicrous.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 25 Mar. 2026
According to the Exiger executive, these developments were not wholly unexpected given the prolific nature of China’s manufacturing sector, which powers the second-largest population in the world.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 25 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 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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