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as in earlier
so as to precede something in order of time
if you didn't get a malaria shot formerly, you'd better get one now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of formerly
The most surprising couple to reconcile is the travesty formerly known as Larl.
—
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Rod Vilhauer, a retiree who formerly owned a construction company and served on the city’s planning and zoning board from 1992 to 1998, said his experience building roads and managing contracts would be an asset if elected.
—Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Orban's tour of five destinations in one week focuses on places that were formerly Fidesz strongholds that polls suggest are now battleground constituencies.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
Thirty-five-year-old Andrea Carter, formerly of Sacramento, was sentenced on June 5, 2025, to 29 months in prison.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formerly
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Rod Vilhauer, a retiree who formerly owned a construction company and served on the city’s planning and zoning board from 1992 to 1998, said his experience building roads and managing contracts would be an asset if elected.
—Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026
Orban's tour of five destinations in one week focuses on places that were formerly Fidesz strongholds that polls suggest are now battleground constituencies.
—Arkansas Online, 17 Mar. 2026
Thirty-five-year-old Andrea Carter, formerly of Sacramento, was sentenced on June 5, 2025, to 29 months in prison.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for formerly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formerly
Adverb
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By then, Pahlavi was surrounded by a younger entourage of analysts and advisers, some of whom were brash figures once associated with the country’s reformist student movement.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
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Scientists have increasingly recognized that sharks, once viewed as largely solitary creatures, have relatively complex social bonds.—
BRADY DENNIS THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Or are some players already talking to their agent about exit plans?—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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Triolet said traffic is a valid concern in the area, which is already congested.—
Lilly Kersh,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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It had been renamed and expanded in size roughly a year ago from a previously existing treatment facility as part of the Taliban government's efforts to stamp out a significant drug addiction problem in the country.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
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In this particular case, the group in question has previously produced three results each claiming the discovery of a fifth force and hints of a novel particle, but none of them panned out.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
19 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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By later June your path ahead should become clearer.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
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But Duke ran off 11 unanswered points to finally push ahead for good.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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And when the Tigers’ 7-foot center Shawn Phillips slammed down a dunk to tie the game 32-32 early in the second half, pure pandemonium.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
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Purdue went on a 17-2 run early in the second half to stretch its lead to 27 points and Queens could not match the Boilermakers’ sharpshooting, physicality and rebounding.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Formerly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/formerly. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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