Another Word for Overall: 14 Synonyms with Examples
“Overall” means taking everything into account, or in total. It is useful for summarising, but there are crisper options.
As an adverb: taking everything into account
- on the whole
- generally
- all in all
- in general
- broadly
- by and large
- altogether
As an adjective: including everything; total
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How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- on the whole
- Softer: admits some exceptions while giving the general picture.
- all in all
- Informal; good for wrapping up a review or story.
- broadly
- Suggests a general, not detailed, view: “broadly speaking”.
- total
- As an adjective, use it for amounts: “the total cost”.
- comprehensive
- Means covering everything thoroughly, as in a comprehensive review.
Example sentences
- on the whole: On the whole, the trip went smoothly.
- all in all: All in all, it was a good year for the club.
- broadly: The two parties broadly agree on the budget.
- total: The total cost came to just under £400.
- generally: Customers were generally happy with the service.
Opposite of overall
- partly
- partially
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “overall”?
The most useful alternatives are “on the whole”, “generally”, “all in all”, “in general”, “broadly”. For the main sense (taking everything into account), “on the whole” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “on the whole” and “all in all”?
on the whole: Softer: admits some exceptions while giving the general picture. all in all: Informal; good for wrapping up a review or story.
What is the opposite of “overall”?
Common antonyms are “partly”, “partially”.