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 Vicki could barely hide her disgust that Luann’s antics get more respect than her insurance business. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026 Formulated with 40% water and light-reflecting pigments, the foundation has a silky, barely there feel and instantly hydrates skin for up to 12 hours. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026 For most Thai citizens, the selection of 200 new senators in 2024 through an arcane and untested self-nomination system barely registered, creating ample opportunity for manipulation. — Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026 While Cuban government figures cite that 99% of the country has access to electricity, Cuban leaders can barely keep the lights on. — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for barely

Adverb

The boy was spotted sitting on his own at a hut about 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) above sea level – slightly more than halfway up the country’s tallest mountain – by a worker on Thursday, according to CNN’s affiliate TV Asahi.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
The kitchen itself, though, feels fairly unused—one tap wasn’t working, the cutlery was slightly rusty, and the whole setup had a ramshackle quality.

— Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of slightly

Adverb

But his record of publicly interacting with Piker — including at a pool party just before the primary — remains a sore point among some Michigan Democrats.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Search and rescue efforts are only just beginning, and these first hours are filled with uncertainty, but also with hope.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of just

Adverb

But critics have argued that the ads seem narrowly designed to encourage more people to use their glasses for continuous recording.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026
Ossoff ran in a special election for Georgia's sixth congressional district in 2017, narrowly losing the race to Republican Karen Handel.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of narrowly

Browse Nearby Words

bare-knuckle

barely

bareness

See all Nearby Words

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Style

“Barely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barely. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of barely

adverb

Example Sentences

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