as in easily
without difficulty
you're not going to get off lightly if they catch you!
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lightly
Jasmine rice gets toasted until fragrant and lightly golden, then it’s cooked with coconut milk to yield a supremely nutty base for the salad.
—
Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Additionally, make sure to lightly stomp before heading into overgrown areas, as this helps alert any snakes snoozing in the shade of your presence.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Original Chicken Critters While there are Chicken Critters — chicken tenders that are golden-fried and lightly crispy — on the menu today, fans say the original recipe has changed.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Roast until sprouts and apples are tender and lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans halfway through roasting.
—Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Emily Weinstein, Twin Cities, 4 June 2026
Additionally, make sure to lightly stomp before heading into overgrown areas, as this helps alert any snakes snoozing in the shade of your presence.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
Original Chicken Critters While there are Chicken Critters — chicken tenders that are golden-fried and lightly crispy — on the menu today, fans say the original recipe has changed.
—Natassia Paloma, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Roast until sprouts and apples are tender and lightly browned, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating pans halfway through roasting.
—Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightly
Adverb
-
Frenchie's flameout was epic and hilarious, Derek X was astute and entertaining, and Claire easily could have been a serious contender on another season.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
-
The second act is tighter and has the best songs, but the whole show could easily be condensed into a 100-minute one-act with little lost.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 June 2026
Adverb
-
During the 2024 election, officials received a record number of bomb threats, though Barton said elections went very smoothly, mostly because officials were prepared.—
Ashley Lopez,
NPR,
6 June 2026
-
That said, everyone could benefit from completing a few simple household maintenance tasks on the weekend in order to ensure things flow more smoothly over the course of the busy work week ahead.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
Adverb
-
Pivoting effortlessly from family man to ruthless felon, Cranston once again puts his acting range on full display, with a nuanced performance that is underscored by the knowledge that the slightest misstep could cost him — and his family — their lives.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
Lightweight, breathable coverups layer effortlessly for beach-to-boardwalk versatility.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Adverb
-
Butlers here are called Aris Meehas, a historical Maldivian reference to someone assigned to serve royalty—thankfully, interactions are more easy-going than overly deferential.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
The vocals breathe easy, and Skinner’s touch is light.—
Arman Khan,
Pitchfork,
1 June 2026
Adverb
-
The Glen Canyon Institute and canyon activists for years have argued that Lake Powell should be drained and the Colorado River allowed to again flow freely through Glen Canyon.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
-
The extra water allows laundry to agitate more freely during the wash cycle, which can be helpful with bulky items.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Adverb
-
Staff greet you by name, and requests are handled quickly and efficiently.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Since the Neo Geo’s scaling hardware can efficiently stretch those sprites vertically without much overhead, the raycasting data can be quickly converted into a chunky approximation of a first-person view.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
Adverb
-
Missing out on Champions League qualification is unlikely to be a major stumbling block given that, in theory at least, Chelsea should be in a better position to challenge for silverware next season and more readily able to compete in Europe’s blue-chip competition longer term than Villa.—
Mario Cortegana,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
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In his stead, the United States propped up the venal and repressive shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who proved to be a pliable ally readily serving its oil and armament interests.—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightly. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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