inwardly

adverb

in·​ward·​ly ˈin-wərd-lē How to pronounce inwardly (audio)
1
: in the innermost being : mentally, spiritually
2
a
: beneath the surface : internally
bled inwardly
b
: to oneself : privately
cursed inwardly

Example Sentences

She was outwardly calm but inwardly nervous.
Recent Examples on the Web But the really significant stuff, and drama, too, is there or will be there, if it’s recognized, acknowledged and examined inwardly, candidly, closely. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 25 July 2022 The other co-director, Jimmy Donohue doubles as a cast member, setting the furious pace as William Barfée, the outwardly overconfident (yet inwardly insecure) champion who spells with his feet. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 26 Jan. 2023 And by setting his story among these outwardly peaceful, inwardly passionate believers, Banks has created another fascinating volume in his exploration of the American experience. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2022 But is the outwardly happy couple inwardly troubled? Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2022 There are moments in the film where, outwardly, little is happening, but, inwardly, time seems to dilate to an epochal scale. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2022 But inwardly Kim was struggling with her mental health after the Olympics. Macaela Mackenzie, Glamour, 28 Oct. 2022 Films and works of fiction about artists inwardly interrogating their origins, memories, country and legacy could be said to make up a genre of a kind. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Oct. 2022 Self-care regimes focus on cultivation of a mindful, inwardly focused life. Jeffrey A. Hall, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inwardly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of inwardly was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near inwardly

Cite this Entry

“Inwardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inwardly. Accessed 25 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

inwardly

adverb
in·​ward·​ly ˈin-wərd-lē How to pronounce inwardly (audio)
1
: in the mind or spirit
2
a
: on the inside
bled inwardly
b
: to oneself : privately
chuckled inwardly
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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