as in accurately
in a literal, true, or accurate way
She is not one for hyperbole—all of her warnings should be taken literally. The employees took the CEO's remarks literally and rightfully worried about the future health of the company.
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Recent Examples of literally
Nearly all the literally bloody labor strikes in the era were not to get higher wages but rather to stop yet another pay cut.
—
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
That ball was literally perfect.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The block parties are remembered as oases, music as literally life-saving.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
That’s quite literally all there is to it!
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literally
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
That ball was literally perfect.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
The block parties are remembered as oases, music as literally life-saving.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
That’s quite literally all there is to it!
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literally
Adverb
-
Edens, a professor of psychology at Texas A&M University, testified about studies he’s been involved in that examined whether experts accurately predicted future violence by defendants believed to be a threat.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Apr. 2026
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An incomplete picture Yearbooks are a limited source for accurately understanding history.—
Michael A Messner,
The Conversation,
22 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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In November 2024, Councilmembers Monica Rodriguez and Bob Blumenfield introduced a motion calling for the city to explore bypassing LAHSA and contracting directly with service providers, citing concerns about fragmentation and accountability.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Then Reed Sheppard threw away the ensuing inbound pass, leading directly to a tying 3 from LeBron James.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Cite this Entry
“Literally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literally. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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