as in easily
without difficulty
you're not going to get off lightly if they catch you!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Former Major League Baseball star Jim Edmonds isn't one to take patriotism lightly.
—
Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Rodrigo came up under the influence of Taylor Swift, who taught a generation of singers how to write post-breakup disses lightly dashed with antiheroic confessions.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Start at the top of the window and lightly spritz the entire surface.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 12 June 2026
Made of durable iron with a lightly distressed finish, it’s designed to look better with time.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Rodrigo came up under the influence of Taylor Swift, who taught a generation of singers how to write post-breakup disses lightly dashed with antiheroic confessions.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026
Start at the top of the window and lightly spritz the entire surface.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 12 June 2026
Made of durable iron with a lightly distressed finish, it’s designed to look better with time.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightly
Adverb
-
Insider tip Costa Rica's South Pacific Coast is easily accessible via Sansa Airlines, Costa Rica's domestic carrier.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
-
Marlowe is not easily replaceable, especially if the Nuggets follow the trend of going younger and less experienced.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
Adverb
-
Its advanced chip features dedicated Neural Accelerators to drive on-device Apple Intelligence AI tools smoothly on iPadOS 26.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
12 June 2026
-
The comparison calls him back to his stable, structured past—a life as smoothly predetermined as a train gliding from station to station.—
Jacob Brogan,
The Atlantic,
11 June 2026
Adverb
-
The lightweight silhouette pairs effortlessly with everything from activewear to flowy travel dresses.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
7 July 2025
-
Combining sophisticated calf leather with the brand’s signature canvas, the bag is effortlessly stylish and functional.—
Molly Blanco,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 July 2025
Adverb
-
The memory foam layers adjust to your sleep position, which makes falling asleep easy.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
15 June 2026
-
Thyme is an easy-growing, evergreen Mediterranean shrub that is generally low maintenance, thriving in sun conditions.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
15 June 2026
Adverb
-
Bring it to a summer barbecue and be prepared to field a lot of requests for your recipe; put your own spin on it and share it freely, just like my mom (and Fannie Flagg herself) does.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
14 June 2026
-
Dozens of screens throughout the bar will feature every goal of the tournament live, while food and drinks flow freely.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Adverb
-
But Boston has not wisely or efficiently reinvested that money into the team, with the exception of the offseason trade for Willson Contreras to play first base.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
The Ranch consists of a selective bunch of professionals that work seamlessly, cohesively together, allowing the Ranch to run efficiently for the guests who traveled from far and near to visit.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
Adverb
-
That means that some offices could have to downsize, others could be converted to apartments and others replaced by buildings that more readily serve the needs of a changing downtown.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
-
But also, this was a time before readily available photography and video.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightly. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
