Comprehensive

easyPositive tone

kom-prih-HEN-siv

adjective

Definition

Complete; including all or nearly all elements or aspects

Memory hook

COMPRE-HENSIVE: GRASPS everything together -- complete and thorough coverage.

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Word roots

comprehendereto grasp together(Latin)

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Examples

The book provides a comprehensive overview of the topic.
She conducted a comprehensive study of climate change.

Test yourself

Fill in the blank with the right word:

The book provides a ______ overview of the topic.
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comprehensive

Synonyms

exhaustivethoroughcompleteextensive

Antonyms

Categories

View all Completeness words

GRE Tip

Comprehensive is a easy-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "exhaustive" or "thorough" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "incomplete".

Read: How to Memorize GRE Words That Actually Stick

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