thorough
/'θʌrə/
Definition
- Adjective:
- Complete and careful; done with great attention to detail: Describes an action or process that is carried out in a comprehensive, meticulous, and exhaustive manner, leaving nothing overlooked.
- Absolute; unqualified; utter: Describes something that is complete in nature or degree.
Usage
The adjective "thorough" is used to describe a person, their actions, or the quality of a process. It emphasizes completeness, diligence, and a lack of superficiality. It is often used with nouns like search, examination, research, understanding, cleaning, and preparation.
Examples
- Describing an action or process:
- The police conducted a thorough investigation of the crime scene.
- Before buying the house, they had a thorough inspection done.
- She gave the room a thorough cleaning.
- Describing a person or their work:
- He is a thorough professional who checks every detail.
- Her report was thorough and well-documented.
- Describing a quality or state:
- The meeting was a thorough waste of time.
- He is a thorough gentleman.
Advanced Usage
- "Thorough" as an intensifier: In some contexts, "thorough" can be used for emphasis to mean "complete" or "total," often in a negative sense.
- The project was a thorough disaster from start to finish.
- "Thorough" in compound adjectives: While the target word is "thorough," note that it forms part of compound adjectives like "thoroughgoing" (meaning very thorough and complete) and "thoroughbred" (a purebred animal, especially a horse).
Variants and Related Words
- Thoroughly (adverb): In a thorough manner; completely.
- The area was thoroughly searched.
- I thoroughly enjoyed the performance.
- Thoroughness (noun): The quality of being thorough.
- The thoroughness of the audit was impressive.
- Thoroughgoing (adjective): Extremely thorough; complete and uncompromising.
- He is a thoroughgoing traditionalist.
Synonyms
- Exhaustive: Including or considering all elements or aspects; fully comprehensive.
- Meticulous: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
- Comprehensive: Including all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.
- Painstaking: Done with or employing great care and thoroughness.
- Complete: Having all the necessary or appropriate parts; entire.
Antonyms
- Superficial: Existing or occurring at or on the surface; not thorough or deep.
- Cursory: Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
- Partial: Existing only in part; incomplete.
- Careless: Not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors.
Idioms and Phrases
- "A thorough nuisance": A complete and utter annoyance.
- That constant noise is a thorough nuisance.
- "Thorough and through": (A variant of "through and through") Completely; in every aspect.
- He is a professional thorough and through.
Adjective
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performed comprehensively and completely
-
an exhaustive study
-
made a thorough search
-
thoroughgoing research
-
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painstakingly careful and accurate
-
our accountant is thorough
-
thorough research
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