not merely

phrase

—used to say that one thing is true and that another thing is also true

He was not merely a great baseball player, he was also a great person.

Examples of not merely in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Every pairing begins with listening, evolves through collaboration and ends with a wine chosen not merely for the dish, but for the person sitting at the table. — Yuri Shima, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

What the controversy revealed was not merely discomfort with a costume, but discomfort with a woman in her forties presenting herself as erotic, funny, commanding, and entirely in control of the spectacle. — Debbie Millman, Time, 25 July 2026

But the series is careful to cast suspicions in a multitude of directions, not merely at Michael but at several people in Sarah’s orbit who only reveal themselves when backed into corners. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 July 2026

Institutions need to look at consistency not merely as an operational virtue, but as an expression of justice. — Basel Tarab, STAT, 22 July 2026

Rhymes for not merely

• cavalierly
• austerely
• severely
• sincerely
• clearly
• dearly
• nearly
• queerly
• yearly