Choosing a complete synonym starts with grammar, because complete works as an adjective and a verb. As an adjective, whole, entire and full mean nothing is missing, while finished and done mean the work is over. As a verb, finish and conclude are the usual swaps.
There is also a third use, the emphatic one: a complete surprise, a complete mess. That sense wants total or utter. You will find all three groups below, along with another word for completed and a list of replacements for completely.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
whole, entire, finished, total, finishPart of speech
Adjective and verbMost formal
comprehensive, finalize, concludeMost casual
done, wrap up, get doneStrongest emphasis
utter, absolute, sheerAntonyms
incomplete, partial, unfinishedWord forms covered
completed, completing, completelyWatch out
Perfect means complete only in fixed phrases like a perfect stranger. It usually means flawless.
Complete synonym groups at a glance
| Use | Swap in | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Every part present | whole, entire, full, intact | The entire set is in the box. |
| Work is over | finished, done, concluded | The repairs are finished. |
| Emphasis | total, utter, absolute | It was a total waste of time. |
| Verb: finish a task | finish, finalize, wrap up | We will finalize the deal Monday. |
| Verb: a form | fill in, fill out | Please fill out page two. |
A report that covers everything is comprehensive. A search that misses nothing is thorough.
From done to comprehensive
Slide along the color strip and the register climbs. Done belongs in speech and chat: "Are you done with the laptop?" Finished works almost anywhere. Whole and entire sit in the middle and stress that no piece is gone. Comprehensive is the formal end, best for guides, studies and insurance policies.
Notice that the first two describe time (the job ended) and the last three describe content (all parts are there). That difference matters more than formality.
Another word for completed
Completed is the past form of the verb, and it often sits on forms and reports. Good swaps:
- The completed survey becomes the finished survey or the filled-in survey.
- She completed the course becomes she finished the course or she passed the course.
- Project completed on time becomes project delivered on time.
- We completed the audit becomes we carried out the audit.
A resume line says "Completed five projects and completed training in safety." Better: "Delivered five projects and earned a safety certificate." Delivered and earned show results, which is what a hiring manager wants to see. More ideas sit on the achieve synonyms page.
Replacing completely
The adverb completely has its own set: entirely, totally, fully, wholly, utterly, thoroughly and absolutely.
- Fully fits capacity and readiness: fully booked, fully charged.
- Entirely and wholly sound formal: the error was entirely mine.
- Utterly works with negative feelings: utterly exhausted.
- Totally is casual: I totally forgot.
- Need a completely synonym for science writing? Entirely is the safest.
Pick fully for good news and utterly for bad news, and the sentence will feel natural.
Synonyms for complete as a verb
For a task, finish is plain and safe. Finalize suits plans, contracts and designs that need a last check. Conclude fits meetings, talks and studies. Accomplish and fulfill add a sense of achievement: you fulfill a promise or a duty.
Casual choices include wrap up and get done: "Let us wrap up by five." Round off means adding a last touch, as in rounding off a meal with dessert.
Emphatic uses and false friends
In phrases like a complete fool or a complete stranger, the word adds force rather than meaning. Swap in total, utter or absolute. Sheer fits nouns of quantity or feeling: sheer luck, sheer joy.
Be careful with perfect. A perfect report has no errors, while a complete report has all its sections, errors and all. Full is also tricky: a full glass is filled to the top, but a complete glass set has every glass.
Opposites of complete
For the adjective, use incomplete, partial or unfinished. Partial suggests some parts exist, while unfinished suggests work stopped in the middle. For the verb, the opposites are begin, start and abandon.
- The data is partial, so treat the numbers with care.
- He left the painting unfinished.
More adjectives live in the describing words hub.
Frequently asked questions
Complete in a report: which word sounds most formal?
Comprehensive works for content, and finalize or conclude work for the verb. Use them in reports, contracts and academic writing.
What is another way to say completed?
Finished, done, delivered and carried out all work. On a resume, delivered or achieved usually sounds stronger.
Is entire the same as complete?
Close. Entire stresses the whole extent of something, like the entire day. Complete stresses that no part is missing, like a complete set.
What can replace completely in an essay?
Entirely, wholly and fully are the most academic. Avoid totally in essays because it sounds like speech.
Opposite of complete: which word is best?
Incomplete is the direct opposite. Partial and unfinished are good alternatives, and for the verb you can use start or abandon.
Can I say done instead of completed?
In speech and chat, yes. In formal writing, finished or completed reads better than done.