total 1 of 3

adjective

ˈtō-tᵊl How to pronounce total (audio)
Definition of totalnext
1
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions had total power over the people of that country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in entire
not lacking any part or member that properly belongs to it gave us a total rundown of the events

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in thorough
trying all possibilities this was total war as far as the military was concerned, and no weapons system was off-limits

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

total

2 of 3

noun

as in sum
a complete amount of something that's the total for our wheat harvest this year

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

total

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to number
to have a total of two and two total four

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to add
to combine (numbers) into a single sum total all the receipts and tell me how much I owe you

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to ruin
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of a powerful hurricane totaled the house some years ago

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Currently 50% off, the P31i delivers high-quality music playback, crystal-clear phone calls, and total earbud immersion without breaking the bank. — Carlos Mejia, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026 This is almost as much total sugar as is contained in a standard Kit Kat bar. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
The highest rain totals were in the Mint Hill area, officials say. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026 And YouTube has 250 kids channels with over 10 million subs and a 300,000 hour total across videos, shorts and livestream of which 80% are pre-school channels. — John Hopewell, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
The port’s record September — totalling 1,042,652 containers — also represents the most volume ever moved through any port in the Western Hemisphere. — Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026 Kansas totaled only 40 yards over its first six drives before the defense forced turnovers and got a fourth-down stop to breathe life into the Jayhawks’ offense. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for total
Recent Examples of Synonyms for total
  1. absolute
  2. entire
  3. thorough
  4. sum
  5. number
  6. add
  7. ruin
  8. complete
Adjective
  • But a low percentage of a rapidly expanding population still produces a rising number of older adults in absolute terms, and that number may continue to rise as the residents who arrived during the past two decades of growth age in place.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Closures should be an absolute last resort — not a response to short-term budget or enrollment pressures.
    — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of absolute
Adjective
  • Brands need to decide which trends resonate, which ones make sense to capitalize on and make a new product launch or an entire franchise and which to let go and pass over.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This phone’s standout feature is the adjustable privacy display, which can hide your entire screen, or just portions of it, from onlookers and strangers.
    — Brad Bourque, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of entire
Adjective
  • As a critical first step, the intelligence committees should initiate a thorough oversight investigation into how the norm has been implemented in practice and the current administration’s adherence to its prohibitions.
    — DAVID S. COHEN, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The decision followed a thorough review of the current beverage industry trends, market conditions, and overall company business strategy.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of thorough
Noun
  • Tinubu’s then-employers at Mobil Oil told investigators his treasurer role did not involve moving large sums and that the company never authorized him to hold its funds personally.
    — Adrian Elimian, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Some economists believe the vast sums of money being borrowed by private AI companies could pile additional pressure on government bond yields.
    — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sum
Verb
  • Carmel-by-the-Sea just got numbered street addresses for the first time in its 110-year history.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images The researchers said the Adelie penguins of Cape Adare, on the other side of Antarctica, are now the world's largest penguin colony, numbering more than one million as of 2018.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of number
Verb
  • The city added 120,000 housing units between 2015 and 2024, while median monthly rent fell from $1,546 in December 2021 to $1,296 in January 2026, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts.
    — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Holding an election during the war would be unlawful and Ukraine would need security guarantees to allow for safe voting, Zelenskyy added.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of add
Verb
  • On Monday, workers hauled out a 200-pound piece of equipment that was ruined by the saltwater and sand carried in on the high tides.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
  • So our goal is to learn how to maximize AI budgets, not ration them and ruin productivity gains.
    — Konstantin Klyagin, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruin
Adjective
  • For more than 50 years, the house remained vacant, was ravaged by fire, and fell into complete disrepair.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Then again, the album’s 15-minute runtime presupposes a complete lasting impression isn’t the point.
    — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of complete

Phrases Containing total

Browse Nearby Words

tot
total
totaled
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Cite this Entry

“Total.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/total. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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