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
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.
—
Nik Popli, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
Commandment lived up to his betting favoritism, just holding off lightly raced but determined Chief Wallabee to win the $425,000 race for top 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.
—Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
The American base there was also hit, lightly injuring three members of the Kuwaiti military.
—Dana Khraiche, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Responses were lightly edited for clarity.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Nik Popli, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
Commandment lived up to his betting favoritism, just holding off lightly raced but determined Chief Wallabee to win the $425,000 race for top 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.
—Clark Spencer, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
The American base there was also hit, lightly injuring three members of the Kuwaiti military.
—Dana Khraiche, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Responses were lightly edited for clarity.
—Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightly
Adverb
-
Despite the full skirt, midi-length, and corset-style top, which give it a formal look, the cotton dress was easily my most comfortable outfit, particularly since the brand designed it to be worn bra-free.—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Designed for small patios, balconies, and gardens, the three-piece set includes a weather-resistant oval table and two chairs that easily tuck into nooks and tight corners.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
While Early looked sharp in his spring debut, Payton Tolle’s first two outings haven’t gone as smoothly.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The car handles well and rides smoothly.—
Hartford Courant,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Their low-profile design pairs effortlessly with any kind of pants, while the light pink leather accents add a subtle pop of color to the classic white exterior.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Gap’s wide-leg sweatpants and sweatshirt have an effortlessly cool feel to them.—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
26 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Neil Sedaka, an irrepressible songsmith who parlayed his compositional skills into pop stardom during the height of the Brill Building era in the 1960s and later staged an easy-listening comeback in the 1970s, has died at age 86.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The ceramic nonstick coating makes cleanup easy.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Mascherano said that Messi fed off the confidence of his teammates in the second half and was able to play more freely.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Their farm, just off a main highway, is filled with chickens and turkeys roaming freely under the watch of Nova, a white Great Pyrenees, and several other dogs.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Developers design homes based on what's trendy now and what can be built efficiently—not necessarily what's interesting or reflective of buyers' values.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Ask for advice on how to handle your responsibilities efficiently.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Service is laid-back and casual, yet staff members are readily available to book transportation, tours, dinner reservations, spa treatments, and the like.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
-
One concern is cognitive offloading, in which decision-makers defer too readily to algorithmic recommendations, effectively diminishing human accountability for strategic choices.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightly. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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