Definition of purelynext
1
as in innocently
with purity of thought and deed the devout girl vowed to live her life purely and in the service of God

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in solely
for nothing other than I fish purely for the fun of it—I don't care if I end up with no fish to fry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in only
nothing more than her pleasantries were purely for show and masked her true feelings

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of purely Research grounded in social identity theory suggests that people frequently incorporate national attachment into their personal identity, which helps explain why debates about patriotism can feel deeply emotional rather than purely intellectual. Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Ruth definitely has the best lines of any character in this episode purely based on volume. Jen Chaney, Vulture, 17 June 2026 According to Paul Sharpe, founder of Surfside Garage Doors, these issues aren't purely cosmetic. Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 17 June 2026 These days, Wilde and Sudeikis are purely focused on co-parenting their two kids — Otis, 12, and Daisy, 9. Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for purely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely
Adverb
  • The deciding goal started innocently enough on a Marcel Sabitzer corner kick, albeit after the World Cup’s still-odd hydration breaks.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
  • The play started innocently enough with Tab Ramos bouncing a one-hop pass to Paul Caligiuri, who played the ball off his chest 40 yards from goal.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
Adverb
  • For years, the industry was dominated solely by Disney, then Pixar and later Dreamworks Animation.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 19 June 2026
  • Because these worldviews frequently arrive at different conclusions, obviously on the polar opposite of each other, Christians don’t see Pride Nights as solely a political debate, but a theological one as well.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Adverb
  • But a federal appeals court reversed that decision, ruling the Voting Rights Act can only be enforced by the federal government and not through lawsuits brought by individual voters or groups.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 21 June 2026
  • In 1908 a significant court ruling determined that only those born to Parsi fathers are recognized by the state as Parsi, laying the groundwork for more than a century of exclusion.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Adverb
  • Gould champions the idea of holding dog owners accountable for properly training and containing their dogs.
    Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
  • Downed trees and powerlines stretched across parts of Justice and Hickory Hills along Roberts Avenue, with multiple intersections not working properly because of all the outages.
    Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Adverb
  • But Garrett might be peerless in his ability to impact the game — as well as the way teams prepare exclusively for him during the week.
    Jeff Howe, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • Clive Standen has signed with Range Media Partners for representation, Variety has learned exclusively.
    Joe Otterson, Variety, 15 June 2026
Adverb
  • And Kemp shed his vow of neutrality to back the lieutenant governor just two days before the runoff.
    Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 17 June 2026
  • Lucy passed away just a month before her second birthday from a brain hemorrhage — cancer-free.
    Siafa Lewis, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Adverb
  • This point can sound almost heretical in modern healthcare discourse, where prevention is frequently framed as both morally superior and financially inevitable.
    Jeffrey Wessler, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • The least morally ambiguous of Snow’s latest characters is Mandy Matney, the investigative journalist whose podcast served as the source material for Murdaugh.
    Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
Adverb
  • To pull it off, the show’s creative team had to build a rock star from the ground up, crafting a visual identity, creating music that could stand on its own outside the series, and transforming Reid into a performer capable of owning a crowd rather than simply acting in front of one.
    Precious Fondren, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • Every fuel truck destroyed, ammunition convoy disrupted or logistics hub struck forces Russian commanders to expend additional time, resources and manpower simply maintaining battlefield operations.
    Hunter LaCroix, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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