CAPTIOUSLY Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

captiously

adverb

Definition of captiously

as in critically

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for captiously

Adverb

His decision to provide access to Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet network, was a lifeline for Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and remains critically important.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Starring Birbiglia, Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher and Chris Gethard, that critically acclaimed SXSW dramedy released in 2016.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of critically

Adverb

Especially as this technology is clinically embedded, developers and leaders must keep a low threshold to pause implementation and roll-out should patient safety or physician workflows ever be impacted negatively.

— Dr. Sai Balasubramanian, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Max Fondren, president of the ICEBreakers student group, said the organization believes the university's partnership with immigration authorities could negatively affect students.

— Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of negatively

Adverb

Denver voters’ opinion of Mayor Mike Johnston continued to decline in a new poll released Thursday, with fully 50% of respondents viewing the first-term city leader unfavorably, according to the Colorado Polling Institute.

— Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2026
The larger issue is that anyone replacing Kornheiser would be compared with him, likely unfavorably.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of unfavorably

Adverb

That’s either an amazing coincidence of errors or the studies were cynically designed to contrive flaws in RCV.

— Paul Haughey, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
Albums of new material followed, showing that Askew’s briny voice and cynically whimsical songcraft had only deepened with age.

— Reed Jackson, SPIN, 31 July 2026

Definition of cynically

Adverb

The tall, garrulous 72-year-old county commissioner is guardedly patriotic.

— Susan Bence, NPR, 4 July 2026
San Diego faces economic challenges in the coming year, but one expert is guardedly optimistic about efforts to address affordability and the potential benefits of artificial intelligence.

— Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026

Definition of guardedly

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“Captiously.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captiously. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of captiously

adverb

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