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total

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noun

total

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word total distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of total are all, entire, and whole. While all these words mean "including everything or everyone without exception," total implies that everything has been counted, weighed, measured, or considered.

the total number of people present

How does the word all relate to other synonyms for total?

All may equal whole, entire, or total.

all proceeds go to charity

When can entire be used instead of total?

In some situations, the words entire and total are roughly equivalent. However, entire may suggest a state of completeness or perfection to which nothing can be added.

the entire population was wiped out

Where would whole be a reasonable alternative to total?

While in some cases nearly identical to total, whole implies that nothing has been omitted, ignored, abated, or taken away.

read the whole book

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of total
Adjective
Indiana played their final postseason game on May 27, 2024 – in total, their 2023-24 journey lasted over eight months. Tony East, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 In total, the order-to-installation turnaround takes around a month. Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
Thursday's event raised $456K and the organization has raised a total of $10.2 million since it was created. Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025 The federal agency has reported a total of 164 cases in 2025 up to February 27, spread between Texas, Rhode Island, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, Kentucky, Georgia, California, Alaska and Washington. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
Despite the risks, 44 families totaling 89 people have returned. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2025 In 2023, Eversource presented invoices totaling $634 million to regulators for storm responses between 2018 and 2021, according to the company. Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for total
Recent Examples of Synonyms for total
Adjective
  • Second, demand that any agreement include the return of kidnapped children and prisoners, as well as absolute security guarantees.
    Claude Malhuret, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • At just 99 million base pairs, its DNA has been stripped down to the absolute essentials.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • If Lamoriello had his way, no one would have been traded this week, and the Islanders would have brought the entire gang back for another go in 2025-26.
    Arthur Staple, The Athletic, 8 Mar. 2025
  • This offering allows an entire data center to be virtualized and enables customers to create their own private cloud.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Image Some senior Israeli officials have argued that there will never be a better moment to take out the major nuclear facilities, though American military officials believe that the Israelis would almost certainly require American equipment and support to do a thorough job.
    David E. Sanger, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2025
  • From a legal perspective, law firms conduct thorough investigations and represent victims in their quest for compensation.
    Arnold Sotelo, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Or in sum, uncivilized peoples of uncivilized spaces.
    Christine Winter, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2025
  • DuPont and Linde outperformed the materials sector, with DuPont's potential sum of the parts valuation getting closer to focus ahead of its Nov. 1 electronics business spinoff.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The whales, mostly spotted off Washington and British Columbia, Canada, are an endangered population, numbered at 73, officials said.
    Paloma Chavez, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2025
  • In Biden’s first address in 2021 the average audience numbered 26.9 million.
    Brad Adgate, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • One that adds intermittent darkness, for instance, practically forces you to stand still for a few seconds until the lights flip back on (too slowly for my comfort).
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Justice added that the site demonstrates that President Donald Trump's Department of Education is putting power back in the hands of parents.
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Sometimes, one bad person or a few bad people can ruin things for everybody.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • As for throwback hits, Barbra Streisand’s sheer jumpsuit by Arnold Scaasi, worn in 1969, is proof that having fun on the carpet always wins, as does Salma Hayek’s Armani look in 1997, complete with a tiara.
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2025
  • But the sheer artistry lies in the fact that any single one of these fights could have won the category.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/total. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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