BARELY Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

barely

adverb

ˈber-lē

Definition of barely

as in slightly

by a very small margin we barely made it to the church on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 barely Merz, 70, became Germany's leader 16 months ago with promises to turn around an economy that has barely grown in years. — Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026 But another key Republican who was barely talking with the billionaire nominee for governor just days ago is now sharing a stage with him. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 21 Sep. 2026 Over time, what once seemed unusually loud may barely register. — Laura Coco, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026 The foam also barely affected the titanium’s mechanical performance. — New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for barely

Adverb

General Daily Insight for September 25, 2026 Reality may feel slightly out of focus today.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Sep. 2026
Gray is expected to benefit from the congressional boundaries created under Proposition 50, which gave the district a slightly more Democratic edge.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of slightly

Adverb

The backstory For most of my life, the Old Dutch Inn has been just a faint memory of kicking my legs from a bar stool, drinking a Shirley Temple next to my late grandmother, who would likely have been nursing a gin and tonic.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
This is on top of Perez Hilton and plenty of other sites (Gawker included) that would just flat-out insult people, draw nasty things on their pictures, and just generally malign them.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of just

Adverb

In his dissent, Scalia argued that the ESA was written narrowly to prohibit the intentional hunting and killing of vulnerable animals, not to broadly protect species at the population level.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
Trump carried Michigan in 2024, albeit narrowly, and El-Sayed is a progressive who has never held elective office.

— Susan Page, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of narrowly

Adverb

Fascination around Coppola’s stylish, sympathetic biopic of the Dauphine of France has hardly waned in the 20 years since its release.

— Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026
With propaganda like this coming out of the White House, communism is hardly the biggest threat facing the country.

— Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of hardly

Browse Nearby Words

bare-knuckle

barely

bareness

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“Barely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barely. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of barely

adverb

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