thorough

[thur-oh, thuhr-oh]

adjective

1. executed without negligence or omissions.

   a thorough search.

   Synonyms: total, unqualified, sheer, downright, exhaustive, in-depth
   Antonyms: superficial, partial

2. complete; perfect; utter.

   thorough enjoyment.

3. extremely attentive to accuracy and detail; painstaking: a thorough analysis.

   a thorough worker;

   a thorough analysis.

4. having full command or mastery of an art, talent, etc..

   a thorough actress.

5. extending or passing through.

adverb

1. Archaic.,  through.

noun

1. (initial capital letter),  the administrative policies of the Earl of Stafford and Archbishop Laud during the reign of Charles I: so called because they were uncompromisingly carried out.

thorough

¹

/ ˈθʌrə /

adjective

1. carried out completely and carefully

   a thorough search

2. (prenominal) utter

   a thorough bore

3. painstakingly careful

   my work is thorough

Thorough

²

/ ˈθʌrə /

noun

1. thoroughgoing policy, as adopted in England by Strafford and Laud during the reign of Charles I

Other Word Forms

• thoroughly adverb
• thoroughness noun
• quasi-thorough adjective
• quasi-thoroughly adverb
• superthorough adjective
• superthoroughly adverb
• unthorough adjective
• unthoroughly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of thorough¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English (preposition and adverb); Old English thuruh, variant of thurh through

Word History and Origins

Origin of thorough¹

Old English thurh; related to Old Frisian thruch, Old Saxon thuru, Old High German duruh; see _through

Example Sentences

At the conclusion of the meeting, Johnson, the chair of the Civilian Oversight Commission, called on the Sheriff’s Department to take steps to ensure it is conducting fair and thorough reviews of all inmate allegations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

However, Baroness Elizabeth Berridge, who opposes the bill, said it was "a thorough debate, scrutinising significant issues including the devolution implications of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill and the use of the Mental Capacity Act".

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But Patrick Huey, an adviser with offices in Naples, Fla., and Portland, Ore., said to consider such opportunities “only after thorough vetting and always as a complement, not a core, holding.”

Read more on MarketWatch

Echeverría said a thorough investigation would be carried out to identify the cause and that work was under way to quickly restore power.

Read more on BBC

"We are exploring all possibilities and will conduct a thorough investigation, taking all possibilities into account. All options will be investigated immediately and we will present the results to the public," he added.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• accurate 
• careful 
• complete 
• comprehensive 
• detailed 
• exhaustive 
• full 
• intensive 
• meticulous 
• painstaking 
• profound