Definitions

on the whole

Part of Speech:

All (12) Adjective (1) Adverb (11)

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en masse adj.
all told adv.
altogether adv.
chiefly adv.
generally adv.
mainly adv.
mostly adv.
overall adv.
primarily adv.
routinely adv.
typically adv.
usually adv.

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.

See Examples For:

on the whole

Fast forward 40 years and fans today are generally a bit more measured on the whole episode.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

There’s established law there, and trial courts have, on the whole, held, and when they haven’t, they’ve been admonished or overturned on appeal.

From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2026

Like any group of people, the Somali immigrant community contains good and bad people in it, but on the whole, their very existence is a testament to human tenacity.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

Nvidia is another stock that is cheaper than the S&P 500 on the whole, despite explosive gains over the past few years.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

It was designed to fly above the farm and keep an eye on the whole place, but it came crashing down when a mob of crows attacked it in flight.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

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on the whole

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