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
-
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
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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
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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
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Lightweight, breathable coverups layer effortlessly for beach-to-boardwalk versatility.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Adverb
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The sale features impressive savings on patio furniture, area rugs, Adirondack chairs, and clever storage solutions that make handling household clutter easy.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
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Branch Water builds on that idea of clean, minimal ingredients while borrowing the easy-drinking spirit and citrus notes of Ranch Water.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Adverb
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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
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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
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But since its inception, the system has been more restrictive and worked less efficiently than some schools and athletes might have hoped.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
In many situations, repairing a system makes sense when the unit is relatively young, the repair is affordable, the issue is isolated and the system continues to operate efficiently.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
9 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
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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 12 Jun. 2026.
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