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Solely vs Completely - What's the difference?

solely | completely | Related terms |

As adverbs the difference between solely and completely

is that solely is alone; exclusively while completely is in a complete manner; fully; totally; utterly.

solely

English

Adverb

(-)
  • Alone; exclusively.
  • The new chef was solely responsible for attending the grill.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 20, author=Nina Bernstein, title=Storm Bared a Lack of Options for the Homeless in New York, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=This week, officials closed all evacuation centers but two on Staten Island. Now they plan to rely solely on hotels, even as they brace for a new wave of people displaced from storm-damaged housing where they are facing winter without heat or hot water.}}

    completely

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (manner) In a complete manner; fully; totally; utterly.
  • * 1851 , (Herman Melville), , Chapter 70,
  • It should not have been omitted that previous to completely stripping the body of the leviathan, he was beheaded.
  • * 1899 , (Kate Chopin), , Chapter XIX,
  • She completely abandoned her Tuesdays at home, and did not return the visits of those who had called upon her.
  • * 1969 , E.R. Zumwalt, Jr., ,
  • Lieutenant (junior grade) KERRY immediately maneuvered his craft through several strafing runs which completely silenced the enemy.
  • (degree) To the fullest extent or degree; totally.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=I had occasion […] to make a somewhat long business trip to Chicago, and on my return […] I found Farrar awaiting me in the railway station. He smiled his wonted fraction by way of greeting, […], and finally leading me to his buggy, turned and drove out of town. I was completely mystified at such an unusual proceeding.}}
  • * 1968 June 8, ,
  • Our future may lie beyond our vision, but it is not completely beyond our control.
  • * 1975 , (Helen Schucman), '', Lesson 75: ''The light has come ,
  • Keep a completely open mind, washed of all past ideas and clean of every concept you have made.

    Synonyms

    * See also