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 second is silent, perhaps buried in papers, perhaps with their head firmly implanted in the sand.
—
Samantha Gloede, Fortune, 19 June 2026
Australian defender Cameron Burgess couldn’t get out of the way and the ball was firmly knocked into the goal for a 1-0 US lead in the 11th minute.
—David Close, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
At a time when SpaceX is sending stock markets around the world into a frenzy, the horse remains firmly at the very heart of Hermès.
—Pierre Groppo, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2026
Passing through foundational landmarks like Hebron and Jerusalem, the Route 66-style initiative aims to bring Scripture to life while firmly anchoring the nation's ancient Jewish identity against attempts to erase biblical history.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
What a 2026 dinner party actually looks like Formality is firmly off the guest list.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
Over the course of a career spanning more than two decades and 40 film and television credits, Gosling has firmly established himself as an actor who can do just about anything.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 June 2026
If last year’s guards are viewed more as developmental bets than future starters, another more polished guard should stay firmly on the board.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 June 2026
Most play for contenders, and those who don’t are either too young (Dillon Dingler, Kevin McGonigle) or too firmly entrenched (Alvarez, Trout, Buxton, Juan Soto) to move easily.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Samantha Gloede, Fortune, 19 June 2026
Australian defender Cameron Burgess couldn’t get out of the way and the ball was firmly knocked into the goal for a 1-0 US lead in the 11th minute.
—David Close, CNN Money, 19 June 2026
At a time when SpaceX is sending stock markets around the world into a frenzy, the horse remains firmly at the very heart of Hermès.
—Pierre Groppo, Vanity Fair, 19 June 2026
Passing through foundational landmarks like Hebron and Jerusalem, the Route 66-style initiative aims to bring Scripture to life while firmly anchoring the nation's ancient Jewish identity against attempts to erase biblical history.
—Staff, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026
What a 2026 dinner party actually looks like Formality is firmly off the guest list.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026
Over the course of a career spanning more than two decades and 40 film and television credits, Gosling has firmly established himself as an actor who can do just about anything.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 June 2026
If last year’s guards are viewed more as developmental bets than future starters, another more polished guard should stay firmly on the board.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 17 June 2026
Most play for contenders, and those who don’t are either too young (Dillon Dingler, Kevin McGonigle) or too firmly entrenched (Alvarez, Trout, Buxton, Juan Soto) to move easily.
—Chad Jennings, New York Times, 17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for firmly
Adverb
-
New Gallup analysis of a 2025 study with the Kettering Foundation found that, among those who listen to influencers on the left, like Hasan Piker, 71% strongly back the right to peacefully protest, compared with 49% of Democrats overall.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
16 June 2026
-
Yet the Iranians also overcame two deficits in an exciting match, getting the tying goal from Mohammad Mohebi in the 64th minute before a strongly pro-Iranian crowd at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, which has the world's largest population of Iranians outside Iran.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
Adverb
-
At next week’s meeting, Kevin Warsh must vigorously attack this misbegotten idea, the Phillips Curve.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
-
Every Three Years To keep the plant growing vigorously, Trinklein recommends dividing it every three years to encourage strong growth and reblooming.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
Adverb
-
However, some analysts suspect the bombing was the work of Uyghur separatists angry that Thailand had forcibly repatriated scores of Uyghurs to China in July 2015.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 June 2026
-
To its right is a watercolor painting of the Gila River War Relocation Center in Arizona, where many members of the family were forcibly transported to and imprisoned during World War II.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Adverb
-
In heat waves, Aid stations could be hard-pressed to manage everyone affected.—
Arthur L. Kellermann,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
-
Add liquid ingredients and ice, seal and shake hard.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
20 June 2026
Adverb
-
As in the Assembly on Monday, Republicans spoke vehemently against the taxes but had little chance at fracturing the Democrat supermajority.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
-
Simmons vehemently disputed the idea that the program wasn’t tailored to specific historical policies.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Adverb
-
Seksan Mongkhonkhamsao/Getty Images Few assets are protected as fiercely as a retirement account.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
Having introduced that fiercely luminous piece in 2023, Dudamel brought it back in March, placing it on the second half of a concert that began with Beethoven’s Seventh.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Firmly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/firmly. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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