formally

adverb

Definition of formallynext
as in carefully

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 formally An 18-year-old man accused of using a knife, sword and ax to murder his stepfather was formally charged on Monday. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026 More clinical evidence is needed before goji berries can be formally prescribed for medicinal purposes. — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 July 2026 The new zoning rules are still in the planning stage and have not been formally sponsored by any council member. — Ilana Arougheti july 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026 The office said the cause and manner of Graham’s death would be formally recorded after toxicological and microscopic testing is completed. — Connor Greene, Time, 14 July 2026 Meanwhile, Centre 16 is formally recognized as the group behind a December 2025 attempt to sabotage power plants in Poland. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 14 July 2026 In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, lower courts are in the process of issuing final orders to formally terminate TPS, as ordered by the highest court. — Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 13 July 2026 The Israeli soldier who physically assaulted a CNN photojournalist in March was formally reprimanded by his commanders for his use of force but faces no criminal charges in the matter, the Israeli military said Monday. — Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 13 July 2026 She was arrested on suspicion of a DUI in March, and formally charged with the offense in April. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formally
  1. carefully
  2. systematically
  3. orderly
  4. gingerly
  5. meticulously
  6. methodically
  7. deliberately
Adverb
  • But this year is different, and the roles are reversed; David and his uncle do the swapping while Peralta stands by to place each sticker carefully into the album.
    — Maria Jose Gutierrez-Chavez, Curbed, 17 July 2026
  • Readers of the report may not be carefully attuned to the legal arguments used to justify anti-BDS legislation, but PEN America obviously is and so are the donors who support this work.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of carefully
Adverb
  • These two drivers are poised to reaccelerate earnings by increasing high-margin recurring revenue and applying DBS to systematically improve Masimo's margins.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • So, how could a raccoon, an animal that evolved over hundreds of millions of years to adapt itself perfectly to swampy forests, find such runaway success living amid the most destructive and systematically ruthless species ever to exist?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of systematically
Adverb
  • The man worked as a hospital orderly, according to the AP.
    — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
  • Policymakers have moved to keep the selloff orderly.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of orderly
Adverb
  • After an 11-hour, 350-mile (560-kilometer) trip, escorted by police, the truck backed slowly into a loading bay at the museum, where workers gingerly eased the container, the size of a small car, to the ground.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • And as Crook returns gingerly to his coach, Artisan has feedback.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
Definition of gingerly
Adverb
  • Moreover, quality must be deeply sensory and meticulously crafted, fostering emotional memories through human connection and attention to detail.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • All of the most iconic images from the first movie — a young Moana interacting with an ocean that parts to greet her as a friend, the heroine, older and wiser, gazing out onto the horizon wistfully from her docked raft — are meticulously redone.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 8 July 2026
Definition of meticulously
Adverb
  • Over the centuries, Chapter House changed hands several times, growing and changing until it was eventually purchased by hospitality industry vets Phil and Silvia Baxter in 2021, who have been lovingly, methodically updating it since.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Investment banks welcomed the arrival of Genesis which has been working methodically through a plan to consolidate the gold rich region around the mining centers of Leonora and Laverton in central WA.
    — Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of methodically
Adverb
  • During the reception, the atmosphere was deliberately informal.
    — Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 15 July 2026
  • Kaley’s case was a first-of-its-kind lawsuit, and the verdict could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of deliberately causing harm.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of deliberately

Browse Nearby Words

formalizing
formally
formals
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Formally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formally. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on formally

Nglish: Translation of formally for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of raffish

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All