Find Antonyms

thorough Antonyms

Opposite of thorough

Because the opposite of thorough shifts with each meaning, the 17 antonyms and opposite words below are separated across 3 exact definitions and ranked by contrast strength.
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• adjective (Context 1)

Performed or written with great care and completeness, leaving no detail overlooked.

Usage Example

"The inspectors conducted a superficial examination of the building's electrical wiring."

Strongest
superficial
cursory
incomplete
Strong
perfunctory
partial
sketchy
half-hearted

• adjective (Context 2)

Taking great pains to do things accurately, methodically, and carefully (used of a person or their approach).

Usage Example

"She is a careless researcher who verifies every primary source before publishing."

Strongest
careless
sloppy
Strong
negligent
slipshod
haphazard
slapdash
lax

• adjective (Context 3)

Absolute or total in degree or extent (typically used before a noun for emphasis).

Usage Example

"Despite the rainy weather, the outdoor concert was a partial success."

Strongest
partial
Strong
slight
moderate
qualified

Similar words to thorough

Words similar to thorough shift depending on context. Common synonyms include:

comprehensive
complete
meticulous
exhaustive
total
utter
conscientious
absolute
See all synonyms of thorough

• Nearby Words

thornless
thornlike
thorny
thorough
thoroughbred
thoroughfare
thoroughgoing

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Antonyms for Thorough. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/antonyms/thorough
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