thorough
11 synonyms and 3 antonyms for thorough, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Done with great care and attention, missing no detail.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use thorough
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
A stressed variant of "through," from Old English þuruh — the two words share the same root but split apart in meaning over time.
Full origin of thorough →Frequently asked questions
What does “thorough” mean?
The word “thorough” means done with great care and attention, missing no detail. In plain terms, careful and complete, leaving nothing out.
How do you pronounce “thorough”?
“Thorough” is pronounced THUH-ruh (/ˈθʌɹoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “thorough” in a sentence?
Here is “thorough” used in a sentence: “The inspector gave the building a thorough examination before approving it.”
What is another word for “thorough”?
Words with a similar meaning to “thorough” include rigorous, scrupulous, comprehensive, outright and unmitigated.
What is the opposite of “thorough”?
The opposite of “thorough” — its antonyms — are cursory, superficial and surface-level.
What part of speech is “thorough”?
“Thorough” is an adjective.
Where does the word “thorough” come from?
The word “thorough” comes from Old English. A stressed variant of "through," from Old English þuruh — the two words share the same root but split apart in meaning over time.
Is “thorough” a common word?
“Thorough” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "thorough" and "through"?
"Thorough" is an adjective meaning done with great care and completeness, missing no detail. "Through" is mainly a preposition or adverb meaning from one side to the other, or finished. They are spelled similarly but have unrelated meanings and different pronunciations.
What is the difference between "thorough" and "detailed"?
"Detailed" means containing many particulars, while "thorough" means covering everything completely and leaving nothing out. Work can be detailed in places yet still not thorough if it misses important areas; thorough stresses full, careful coverage.
What is the difference between "thorough" and "meticulous"?
Both suggest great care, but "meticulous" emphasises precise attention to small details and neatness. "Thorough" emphasises completeness, dealing with every part of a task, even if it is not especially fussy about tiny details.
Why does "thorough" sometimes mean "complete" or "absolute"?
Besides meaning careful and detailed, "thorough" can mean complete or absolute in degree. So "a thorough disgrace" means an utter or total disgrace, and here the word intensifies what follows rather than describing careful work.