on the whole
All things considered
On the whole means considering everything together, or taking the general view rather than focusing on particulars.
It introduces a balanced assessment: On the whole, the project was a success, despite some setbacks.
The phrase signals that while exceptions or complications exist, the overall picture points one way.
- overallInclusive of everything
- generallyIn most instances
- by and largeIn most cases
- mostlyFor the greater part
- largelyTo great extent
all things considered · relatively · big picture · broadly · holistically · all in all · all told · overview · as a rule · for all intents and purposes · in essence · on balance · in summary · comparatively · broadly speaking · ultimately · basically · when all is said and done
on the wholespecifically
In a precise manner
in particular · in detail · particularly · narrowly · precisely
on the wholein part
To some degree
partially · to some extent · not entirely · incompletely · up to a point
holy, whole, the, wholesome, wholly, wholeness, hologram, holistic, hollowness