GENTLY Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

gently

adverb

Definition of gently

as in weakly

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in tenderly

Related Words

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 gently Its 30% Saccharomyces yeast ferment contains 3% N-acetylglucosamine, an amino sugar that gently encourages surface exfoliation without relying on AHAs or BHAs, helping skin look smoother and more even with less potential for irritation. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026 Use a microfiber cloth, mild dish soap, and warm water to gently clean zellige tiles without damaging them. — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026 There’s no mediation or therapy-speak gently coaxing the brothers toward reconciliation. — Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026 The classic profile is gently supportive for back and stomach sleepers, while the contoured option offers enhanced comfort and support for side and back sleepers. — V Brand Stories, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 As the pancake cooks, gently press the cream towards the cake so it will be absorbed. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2026 Cook gently for 1-2 minutes, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens enough to lightly coat the back of a spoon. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 Fifty years in the shadows, gently nudging Southland kids into the light. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 In a move months in the making, three male beluga whales from a shuttered marine park in Canada were gently lowered into a pool at SeaWorld San Diego on Saturday, saving the animals from possibly being euthanized. — Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gently

Adverb

Led by Arne Güllich, researchers analyzed the developmental histories of 35,000 world-class adults, including Nobel laureates and Olympians, finding early excellence is weakly linked to adult achievement.

— Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Native traditions have repeatedly been acknowledged in principle – named, counted, formally recognized – but weakly protected in practice.

— Kerri J. Malloy, The Conversation, 9 July 2026

Definition of weakly

Adverb

Léo’s tenderly nostalgic reminiscences of past love affairs are slapped down by Emma, who brusquely dismisses his pleasant recollections as mere male projection.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Mining the moribund annals of art history, the duo create tenderly wrought paintings and drawings that often revisit the aesthetics of the Hapsburg and Ottoman Empires, which overtook large swaths of the artists’ native Croatia for centuries.

— Alex Jovanovich, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of tenderly

Adverb

There was a new moon, a thin crescent of pale light, shining softly in the sky.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
An ingenious means of admitting natural light has been contrived so that, during the daytime, parts of these wonderfully austere and stony subterranean cellars, which ought to be very dark indeed, remain softly radiant.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of softly

Adverb

Tonally, The Stunt Driver is something special — very funny but also sweetly sincere.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 11 Sep. 2026
In a profoundly prolific decade, Texas singer-songwriter Charley Crockett has refined a soulful country purview, crooning sweetly about love and perseverance in misfortune and yielding rave reviews and Grammy nominations.

— Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of sweetly

Adverb

Market value is typically higher than book value for profitable companies, but Boeing and Lockheed’s earnings suggest that ULA’s finances are, to put it delicately, fragile.

— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Guadagnino’s personal connection might also be why certain subjects are dealt with delicately.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of delicately

Adverb

Trump has long talked about his survival as divinely guided, a theme Vance took up.

— Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Murder might seem like a harsh punishment for being a greedy guest, but in the poem, Zeus and Athena support and divinely assist Odysseus’s plan to massacre Penelope’s arrogant suitors.

— Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026

Definition of divinely

Adverb

Psychiatry is the work of building the airplane while flying it carefully, collaboratively, and compassionately, as conditions may change midair.

— Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
When delivered compassionately, a no communicates and models a strong sense of judgment as an executive.

— Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of compassionately

Browse Nearby Words

gentling

gently

gentries

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“Gently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gently. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of gently

adverb

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