as in strongly
in a vigorous and forceful manner
stomped his feet firmly to get the snow off his boots
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Recent Examples of firmly
The year is 1961, and the jazz legend (played flawlessly by Norway’s Anders Danielsen Lie) is firmly in the grip of a raging heroin addiction, having acquired a taste for the destructive street drug made inexplicably romantic in postwar boho circles.
—
Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Rooted firmly in rock, her sound reflects inspiration from No Doubt and The Rolling Stones while maintaining a style that is distinctly her own.
—Kristen Wisneski, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
The angle can be adjusted manually and then locked firmly into place.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2026
Only a nerd takes pleasure in responsibility, and we are firmly ensconced in an anti-nerd epoch.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
The ratings agency also expects foreign direct investment into the region to remain weak, meaning the onus on paying for economic diversification will rest firmly with Gulf governments themselves.
—Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Williams and Corum are firmly entrenched, but Rivers is an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
Schein directs the show with tongue firmly planted in cheek, so there are many amusing sight gags (like an atrocious comb-over wig).
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Arsenal remain firmly in control of the race, nine points clear before City’s win, but after this weekend, it certainly is not settled just yet.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Damon Wise, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Rooted firmly in rock, her sound reflects inspiration from No Doubt and The Rolling Stones while maintaining a style that is distinctly her own.
—Kristen Wisneski, Billboard, 13 Feb. 2026
The angle can be adjusted manually and then locked firmly into place.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2026
Only a nerd takes pleasure in responsibility, and we are firmly ensconced in an anti-nerd epoch.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
The ratings agency also expects foreign direct investment into the region to remain weak, meaning the onus on paying for economic diversification will rest firmly with Gulf governments themselves.
—Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Williams and Corum are firmly entrenched, but Rivers is an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 10 Feb. 2026
Schein directs the show with tongue firmly planted in cheek, so there are many amusing sight gags (like an atrocious comb-over wig).
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Arsenal remain firmly in control of the race, nine points clear before City’s win, but after this weekend, it certainly is not settled just yet.
—Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firmly
Adverb
-
There’s a dusty cloud surrounding the central, contracting star, and that cloud is strongly suspected to be disk-like, with outflows and gaps in the dust in the two directions perpendicular to the disk.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Adding in these 20-year findings strongly suggests that engagement in cognitive training does no harm and may confer substantial benefit.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Always begin by scraping the frosting into a mixing bowl and stirring vigorously or mixing with a mixer until smooth and creamy.—
Sheri Castle,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Maybe someday those who claim to champion the Constitution will do so more often, more consistently and more vigorously.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
There is strong evidence that shows the elderly woman was forcibly removed from her home in Tucson, Arizona.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Feb. 2026
-
One produced a handgun, while the other forcibly removed the juvenile’s property, according to police, with the two then running to a nearby SUV which fled the area.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
What has been hardest is seeing ordinary lives, families, young people, civilians slowly reduced to headlines or abstractions, rather than recognized as individuals living under immense and sustained pressure.—
Emily Chan,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Essentially, what seem like small tweaks have noticeable impacts on control when pushing the ski hard.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Navalnaya has repeatedly blamed Putin for Navalny’s death, something Russian officials have vehemently denied.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Russian officials have vehemently denied the accusation.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
They’re forced to decide if there is room for love in their fiercely competitive world.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Cadillac has become the first American auto giant to step into the fiercely competitive world of Formula One with a dedicated team.—
Duarte Dias,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Firmly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firmly. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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