wholly opposite

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wholly opposite" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe two things that are completely different or contrary to each other. Example: "The two proposals were wholly opposite in their approaches to solving the issue."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Now both are obsessed with internal problems and have adopted wholly opposite strategies for dealing with them.

The Economist

Massenet took a wholly opposite view of his talents.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But, by adding a caveat, Clapper was signalling that his "No" stopped short of being wholly the opposite of "Yes".

The New Yorker

In fact, they are quite the opposite: entirely predictable and wholly reliable.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A signal travelling along an electrical transmission line will be partly, or wholly, reflected back in the opposite direction when the travelling signal encounters a discontinuity in the characteristic impedance of the line, or if the far end of the line is not terminated in its characteristic impedance.

Wikipedia

When I took, erm, I mean, observed people taking drugs (from an elegantly dismayed, wholly legal distance), I felt exactly the opposite.

The Guardian - Opinion

I am wholly sympathetic to the extension of civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples as part of a more radical interrogation of the institution of marriage, but it seems crucial that everyone first has the opportunity to marry.

The Guardian - Opinion

I refer to the lead cladding, and I cannot imagine anyone else getting that wholly functional, concrete-framed building up, on a site exactly opposite Westminster Abbey, without a major row.

The Guardian

Now this is just about the opposite of the kind of rule-bound and wholly unforgiving religion which most people associate with Calvinism, but in her mind it was linked with predestination, in a most unexpected way.

The Guardian - Opinion

In all these instances, ministers failed wholly to achieve the outcome they intended; sometimes they achieved the opposite.

The Guardian - Books

Podhoretz and Buckley now inhabit opposite poles of post-September 11 American conservatism, and they stare at wholly different Iraqs.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your context. While "wholly opposite" is acceptable in various settings, more formal alternatives like "diametrically opposed" might be preferable in academic or professional writing.

Common error

Avoid using "wholly opposite" in very casual or informal settings. Simpler alternatives like "completely different" or "totally contrary" might sound more natural and less stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly opposite" functions as an adjectival modifier, intensifying the degree to which two things are contrary. As shown in Ludwig, this emphasizes a complete divergence rather than a partial difference.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wholly opposite" is a phrase used to emphasize a complete contradiction or stark contrast between two things. Ludwig AI suggests it's grammatically correct and appears most frequently in News & Media and Wiki sources. While acceptable in various contexts, simpler alternatives might be more suitable for very informal settings. The phrase functions as an adjectival modifier, intensifying the degree of opposition. Alternatives include "completely contrary" and "entirely different". Consider your audience and the level of formality required when choosing whether to use "wholly opposite".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely contrary

Replaces "wholly" with "completely", emphasizing the total divergence but using a more common adjective.

entirely different

Substitutes "opposite" with "different", focusing on the dissimilarity rather than direct opposition and replacing "wholly" with "entirely".

diametrically opposed

Replaces both words with a more formal expression that suggests a complete and irreconcilable opposition.

utterly contradictory

Uses "utterly" in place of "wholly" and "contradictory" instead of "opposite" to highlight the conflicting nature.

totally antithetical

Employs "totally" as a substitute for "wholly" and "antithetical" to underscore the fundamental and irreconcilable difference.

in complete opposition

Rephrases the original to use a prepositional phrase, emphasizing the state of being opposed.

poles apart

An idiomatic expression indicating extreme difference or divergence, replacing both words.

worlds away

An idiomatic expression signifying a great difference, suggesting that the two things are very dissimilar.

absolutely dissimilar

Uses "absolutely" to emphasize the extent of dissimilarity, replacing "opposite" with a more general term.

fundamentally divergent

Emphasizes the basic or essential difference between two things, indicating that they differ at a core level.

FAQs

What does "wholly opposite" mean?

The phrase "wholly opposite" means completely or entirely different, suggesting a stark contrast or contradiction between two things.

When is it appropriate to use "wholly opposite" in writing?

It is appropriate to use "wholly opposite" when you want to emphasize a strong contrast or contradiction. However, in very informal contexts, simpler alternatives might be more suitable.

What are some alternatives to "wholly opposite"?

You can use alternatives like "completely contrary", "entirely different", or "diametrically opposed" depending on the context.

How does "wholly opposite" differ from "partly opposite"?

"Wholly opposite" indicates a complete contradiction, while "partly opposite" suggests only a partial or limited divergence. The choice depends on the degree of contrast you want to convey.