LIGHTLY Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

lightly

adverb

ˈlīt-lē

Definition of lightly

as in easily

without difficulty you're not going to get off lightly if they catch you!

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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 lightly The pencil comes in five hues—including black, brown, and taupe—and its pigment goes on lightly to avoid a look that’s too thick or opaque. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2026 Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation said airports in the cities of Najran and Jizan were hit Monday, damaging both facilities and leaving three lightly injured. — Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 The pressure might wear on another actor, but Zada carries the weight of such company lightly. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026 Still, Johnston said the decision to set a strike date was not made lightly. — Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lightly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightly

Adverb

As such, it could be easily exported to describe Jewish quarters elsewhere—and eventually adapted to describe sites of confinement or exclusion the world over.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
The moon's glare will hide faint nearby stars, but Saturn itself is easily bright enough to cope.

— Jamie Carter, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of easily

Adverb

Their research showed that Chinese import competition did lasting damage to American manufacturing communities, which did not adjust as smoothly as optimistic accounts of globalization predicted.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
In theory, the casting of ballots should proceed smoothly from here.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of smoothly

Adverb

The hair accessories blended effortlessly with her texture, folding between the body of her hair thanks to celebrity hair architect Igor Rosales.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Its Jibbitz charms, which snap directly into ventilation holes on its shoes, let wearers mix and match playful designs to effortlessly showcase their personal style.

— Justin Zacks, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of effortlessly

Adverb

Manufacturers must produce hardware faster, ground crews must prepare missions in parallel, and reusable boosters must return to service efficiently.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
According to Karlidag, drying similar fabrics together usually helps the load dry more evenly and efficiently.

— Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of efficiently

Adverb

The four-year program is designed to prep students for a myriad of fields — modern theme park design firms work not only on new attractions but readily contribute to museums, zoos, immersive marketing events and more.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Many of the atoll's reefs have since recovered, but some didn't bounce back as readily.

— Lauren Sommer, NPR, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of readily

Browse Nearby Words

lightless

lightly

light-minded

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“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightly. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lightly

adverb

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