1
as in just
as stated or indicated without the slightest difference
we will meet at exactly six o'clock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in directly
in the same words
a plagiarism suit alleging that one historian had copied large segments of another's text exactly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in strictly
without any relaxation of standards or precision
follow the rules exactly and you won't get into trouble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in quite
to a full extent or degree
she listened to the advice, then did exactly what she wanted to anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in yes
used to express agreement
"Are you calling me a liar?" "Exactly."
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exactly
To avoid this big mistake, figure out in advance exactly how deep the hole should be, and be careful not to dig any deeper.
—
Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The union hasn't said when exactly the strike will begin.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Sung-Mun Song has not exactly forced his way out of Triple-A El Paso.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The Apollo 13 record stood for almost exactly 56 years.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exactly
Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The union hasn't said when exactly the strike will begin.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Sung-Mun Song has not exactly forced his way out of Triple-A El Paso.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
The Apollo 13 record stood for almost exactly 56 years.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exactly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exactly
Adverb
-
When the king talked about his Christian faith, GOP lawmakers were rowdier than Democrats, many of whom offered just tepid applause.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Then, not only that, just to be able to cash in, that’s like the next step there.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
But there are also filmmakers who prize obsolescent technologies precisely for their apparent shortcomings.—
Dennis Lim,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That’s more than $500 extra annually for the typical family’s grocery bill — money that stays in working-class pockets when markets work freely — precisely while large volume retailers often provide the only real relief in this post-Biden inflation hangover.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
In November 2024, Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion calling for the city to explore bypassing LAHSA and contracting directly with service providers, citing concerns about fragmentation and accountability.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Then Reed Sheppard threw away the ensuing inbound pass, leading directly to a tying 3 from LeBron James.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Western governments and the International Atomic Energy Agency have raised alarms over Iran’s enrichment of uranium to near weapons-grade levels and disputes over inspections, while Tehran insists its program is strictly civilian.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
As such, reducing your cat’s protein intake should only be done if strictly necessary and under your veterinarian’s supervision.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
However, the day did not go quite according to plan for Dale Coyne Racing's Romain Grosjean, and that was all thanks to an unfortunate run-in — in the most literal sense imaginable — with a bird.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
General Daily Insight for April 29, 2026 Tension shows up today when timing, tone, or expectations don’t quite match.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
To a trader, much of this looks familiar—essentially a yes-or-no bet on an outcome.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Denver City Council should vote yes.—
Michael Hancock,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The ball slid right underneath his glove, allowing two runs to score, and Semien to end up at second.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This is basically every aerophobic flier’s worst nightmare, and Harlin does a solid job of maintaining the fear factor and shock right up to the moment of Rich’s decision to dump fuel and ditch, since the nearest airport, Guam, is out of range.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Her racial ambiguity was perfectly calibrated to an era in which brands were clamoring to amplify their social-media presence by appealing to as many audiences as possible.—
T. M. Brown,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Greenard perfectly fit defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ system.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exactly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exactly. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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