Definition of easynext
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as in soft
tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others despite her easy approach to discipline, she had a remarkably well-behaved class

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

easy

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adverb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective easy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of easy are effortless, facile, light, simple, and smooth. While all these words mean "not demanding effort or involving difficulty," easy is applicable either to persons or things imposing tasks or to activity required by such tasks.

an easy college course

When is effortless a more appropriate choice than easy?

Although the words effortless and easy have much in common, effortless stresses the appearance of ease and usually implies the prior attainment of artistry or expertness.

moving with effortless grace

How do facile and easy relate to one another?

Facile often adds to easy the connotation of undue haste or shallowness.

facile answers to complex questions

In what contexts can light take the place of easy?

The meanings of light and easy largely overlap; however, light stresses freedom from what is burdensome.

a light teaching load

When might simple be a better fit than easy?

The synonyms simple and easy are sometimes interchangeable, but simple stresses ease in understanding or dealing with because complication is absent.

a simple problem in arithmetic

When is it sensible to use smooth instead of easy?

In some situations, the words smooth and easy are roughly equivalent. However, smooth stresses the absence or removal of all difficulties, hardships, or obstacles.

a smooth ride

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 easy
Adjective
Longer commutes, hills, uneven neighborhood streets, and weekend detours all make a stronger all-around bike easier to justify. New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026 Experts say that while some event contracts — such as the personal life of pop stars — aren’t as easy to manipulate, other scenarios could be rife with insider trading or, in the case of wildfire contracts, motivate people to commit arson. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Trade peak-season crowds for picture-perfect weather, easy-going vibes, and more favorable rates. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 9 Aug. 2026 Though there are plenty of lovely walking trails, even the park’s boat and trams tours will require some walking, so don’t expect to take it easy. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for easy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for easy
Adjective
  • With other phones, even something simple like replacing an aging battery often requires melting adhesive, prying apart fragile glass panels, and decoupling cables.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
  • For a generation that grew up under those glowing Pizza Hut pendants, the appeal is simple.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • In fact there are a number of herbs, vitamins, and prescription medications that can make your skin especially susceptible to sunburn, including some SSRIs, hypertension medications, and cholesterol-lowering medications.
    Diana Helmuth, Outdoor Life, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Friday will be dry and comfortable in the Twin Cities, and a beautiful weekend is ahead.
    Joseph Dames, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Hyaluronic acid piles on even more hydration, while ceramides support the moisture barrier and soothing extracts like cica keep skin feeling comfortable—all adding up to that bouncy, glass-skin finish.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • On Friday, his only real trouble was in the fifth inning, when a soft single, a line drive and a bunt hit loaded the bases with one out.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026
  • This finding, the authors said, suggested soft tissue was still holding the skeleton in place.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Adverb
  • The design utilizes otherwise dead space under the access stairs and jumping platforms and transforms them into equipment rooms to hide away pumps and other accessories while keeping them easily accessible for maintenance.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
  • While ChatGPT’s release in late 2022, helped spark a flurry of competition and advances for large language models, the same idea isn’t easily applied to robots because of their complexity.
    Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The prosecution's argument is that while different life events triggered the memories to surface, the teen simply was not ready to discuss them in detail initially.
    John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 21 Aug. 2026
  • But that doesn’t mean the Sussexes are ready to fully give up on their American dream (despite a Wall Street Journal headline that suggests that this is a branding move to save the couple’s ailing business ventures).
    Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Unauthorized sequels reveal the extremes of why people make movies in the first place, from purely cynical money grabs to pure — even naive — devotion to characters and their world.
    Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
  • In just a few short weeks, his childish, naive world becomes brutally adult.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The goal is to show that philanthropy belongs to them, too — not just the historically wealthier and predominantly white charitable institutions that tend to dominate narratives about philanthropy.
    James Pollard, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Make sure estate documents and beneficiary designations reflect your wishes, including charitable giving.
    Angie O’Leary, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Easy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/easy. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

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