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 Synthetic dyes offer no nutritional value and are often added for purely aesthetic reasons, according to CSPI. Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025 Last week, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin captured headlines—though not purely positive—with the launch of six women, including pop star Katy Perry, to an altitude of 66 miles (106 kilometers). ArsTechnica, 22 Apr. 2025 Often it’s predicated on purely emotional appeals and seeking out scapegoats without actually solving anything and doing great long-term damage on even the most robust of democracies. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 21 Apr. 2025 Our vice president was there purely for a photo op with the Pope. Bluesky Social, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for purely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely
Adverb
  • Saylor also wrote that the student's record record wouldn't be updated based solely on an unspecified finding in the National Crime Information Center that resulted in her termination.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • As for the cost of solar microgrids, the off-grid study mentioned earlier showed near parity in costs of using microgrids powered with a mix of solar and gas and solely gas-powered ones.
    Greg Robinson, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • This time, though, the satellites have not only been significantly upgraded, but represent the largest deployment for Amazon, the company said.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025
  • So, Baeza was awarded 37.5 points instead of 50 because of only five starters.
    John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • The cardinal had his passport confiscated after he was arrested in 2022 for allegedly failing to register the pro-democracy 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund properly.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2025
  • In these settings, properly understanding human social cues and context is even more critical, as even small misjudgments in intention run the risk of injury.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • In this guide, the term blow-dry brush is exclusively used for devices that blow hot air out of the bristles onto wet hair to dry and style your hair.
    Nena Farrell, Wired News, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Buscemi recently spoke to PEOPLE exclusively while attending the Family Dinner fundraising event hosted by Exploring the Arts, a non-profit founded by Tony Bennett, at the Angel Orensanz Foundation in New York City.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • By episode 2, the former Fireflies make it to an area just outside Jackson and see how heavily fortified the city is.
    Eliana Dockterman, Time, 21 Apr. 2025
  • But the Heat then scored just 21 points while shooting 1 of 6 (16.7 percent) on threes in the fourth quarter.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • In other words, if the economy is in a recession or sliding into one, the Fed presumably will lower rates but not if inflation has spiked and the economy is simply losing steam.
    Paul Davidson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Some call ahead or make arrangements through a tour company, while others simply find their way to El Batey de los Hermanos Ayala during opening hours, hoping to hear the rhythms of bomba echoing in the air.
    Melissa Rose Cooper, Essence, 18 Apr. 2025
Adverb
  • Healthcare stakeholders must realize that regulations are merely a baseline and adopt security-first system architectures, embedding privacy and resilience into their core design.
    Chris Bowen, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • But to prevent the trade from becoming merely a partial-season rental of Ozuna, the Marlins would likely insist on dipping into the Braves' wellspring of pitching prospects.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

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