thoroughgoing

[ thur-oh-goh-ing, -uh-goh-, thuhr- ]

adjective

1. doing things thoroughly.
2. carried out to the full extent; thorough.
3. complete; unqualified:

   a thoroughgoing knave.

thoroughgoing

/ ˈθʌrəˌɡəʊɪŋ /

adjective

1. extremely thorough
2. usually prenominal absolute; complete

   thoroughgoing incompetence

Derived Forms

• ˈthoroughˌgoingness, noun
• ˈthoroughˌgoingly, adverb

Other Words From

• thorough·going·ly adverb
• thorough·going·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thoroughgoing¹

First recorded in 1810–20; thorough + going

Example Sentences

In any case, the failure to make thoroughgoing plans to accommodate other media outlets is a de facto act of exclusivity.

From Washington Post

JFK was thus a thoroughgoing practitioner of black swan logic.

From The Daily Beast

One of those senators, Harry F. Byrd Jr., was a thoroughgoing segregationist.

From The Daily Beast

There is simply nothing on the sports calendar as thoroughgoing as the domination of Thanksgiving Day by American football.

From The Daily Beast

Hume and Holbach had much in common intellectually, although the latter was far more thoroughgoing in his repudiation of Theism.

From Project Gutenberg

Malthus was not a thoroughgoing supporter of the 'do-nothing' doctrine.

From Project Gutenberg

We are not even sure that, in a thoroughgoing civic catastrophe, Dr. Straton would escape.

From Project Gutenberg

It was called then the Charles Street gang, and none but the thoroughgoing cared to belong to it.

From Project Gutenberg

The men were a fine lot, and such thoroughgoing Americans, no matter from what country their parents had come.

From Project Gutenberg