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Definitions

on the whole

ADJECTIVE
en masse
Synonyms
STRONGEST
altogether
WEAK
all in all all together as a body as a group as a whole as one bodily by and large ensemble generally in a body in a group in a mass jointly together
Antonyms
WEAK
one at a time singly
ADVERB
all told
Synonyms
WEAK
all together altogether
ADVERB
altogether
Synonyms
STRONGEST
en masse generally
STRONG
all
WEAK
all in all all things considered all told bodily by and large collectively conjointly everything considered everything included for the most part in all in sum in toto taken together
Antonyms
WEAK
incompletely partly
ADVERB
chiefly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
especially essentially largely mostly predominantly principally
STRONG
mainly primarily
WEAK
above all in general in the first place in the main overall usually
Antonyms
WEAK
unimportantly
ADVERB
generally
Synonyms
STRONGEST
broadly commonly customarily largely mostly normally ordinarily publicly roughly typically universally usually widely
WEAK
about all in all almost always altogether approximately as a rule by and large chiefly conventionally en masse extensively for the most part habitually on average overall popularly practically predominantly primarily principally regularly roundly thereabouts
Antonyms
STRONGEST
rarely sometimes unusually
WEAK
exactly particularly seldom specifically
ADVERB
mainly
Synonyms
STRONG
chiefly primarily principally
WEAK
above all essentially first and foremost generally in general in the main largely most of all mostly overall predominantly substantially to the greatest extent usually
Antonyms
STRONG
secondarily
ADVERB
mostly
Synonyms
STRONGEST
chiefly essentially frequently largely often particularly predominantly principally regularly usually
WEAK
above all almost entirely as a rule customarily for the most part in many instances many times most often overall primarily
Antonyms
STRONGEST
infrequently rarely seldom
ADVERB
overall
Synonyms
WEAK
all over chiefly everyplace everywhere generally speaking in the long run largely mainly mostly predominantly primarily principally throughout
Antonyms
WEAK
incomplete narrow
ADVERB
primarily
Synonyms
STRONG
chiefly mainly principally
WEAK
above all basically especially essentially fundamentally generally largely mostly overall predominantly
Antonyms
WEAK
finally secondarily
ADVERB
routinely
Synonyms
STRONGEST
commonly consistently customarily frequently generally habitually normally occasionally often ordinarily regularly sometimes typically
WEAK
as a rule as is the custom as is usual as usual by and large in the main mainly more often than not most often mostly naturally now and again now and then once and again per usual
Antonyms
STRONGEST
infrequently never rarely seldom sometimes uncommonly
ADVERB
typically
Synonyms
STRONGEST
commonly consistently customarily frequently generally mostly naturally normally occasionally often ordinarily regularly routinely sometimes
WEAK
as a rule as is the custom as is usual as usual by and large habitually in the main mainly more often than not most often now and again now and then once and again per usual
Antonyms
STRONGEST
infrequently never rarely seldom sometimes uncommonly
ADVERB
usually
Synonyms
STRONGEST
commonly consistently customarily frequently generally mostly normally occasionally ordinarily regularly routinely sometimes
WEAK
as a rule as is the custom as is usual as usual by and large habitually in the main mainly more often than not most often now and again now and then once and again
Antonyms
STRONGEST
infrequently never rarely seldom sometimes uncommonly
WEAK
exceptionally unusually

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Macron added that the closure of the strait has had "very severe consequences" on "the whole of the planet and the global economy".

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

But, on the whole, it’s better to be perceived as something.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

The revelations have taken their toll on the whole family, says Ms Pelicot.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Scott objected to being cut out of the process—and warned them Bovino’s brash tactics would backfire on the whole department.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

But, on the whole, life for the Warners was about activity, family, and it was about service—church every Sunday—and kindness, the things that Terryl had pleaded for in her diary as a little girl.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel