MAINLY Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

mainly

adverb

ˈmān-lē

Definition of mainly

as in mostly

for the most part you mainly need to focus on improving your golf swing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 mainly The other two suspects, 54-year-old Sharon Hazan of Israel and 42-year-old Guy Sheetrit of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, mainly focused on laundering the funds. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026 In the case of breast arterial calcification, the calcium lies mainly in the artery’s muscular wall, where it is associated with blood vessel stiffening. — Matthew Nudy, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2026 Loop downgrades Dollar Tree to hold from buy Loop downgraded the stock mainly on valuation. — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026 Cooking, at that point, mainly revolved around making food for her son, Justin, and his friends. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mainly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mainly

Adverb

In the four years since AI first became broadly available as a commercial product, these productivity returns have mostly failed to materialize.

— Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 8 Nov. 2026
What actually happened in 2020 was a massive miseducation campaign by billionaire Ken Griffin who raised the specter that a rise in taxes, mostly on wealthy people, would mean a tax increase for everyone, which was totally untrue.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of mostly

Adverb

Limiting electric boost primarily to these high-power phases reduces the amount of battery capacity—and battery weight—the aircraft must carry.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Properties are primarily based in cities, and Mallorca feels like a fresh and exciting new arm to its impressive portfolio, which now spans 46 hotels as well as private residences.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of primarily

Adverb

Morningstar analyst Loredana Muharremi told CNBC Wednesday's weakness in European defense stocks was largely sentiment-driven.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
The durable material is known to attract sea life to areas that are largely void of fish, creating a destination for fishing boats.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

On an October weekend, his heavy schedule of stops included greeting people at the annual Boll Weevil Fall Festival in Enterprise, a predominantly white city of about 31,000.

— Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
The district’s Latino electorate is predominantly young, working-class, and migratory – a demographic that historically tracks lower in voter turnout, according to several studies.

— Cindy Carcamo, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of predominantly

Adverb

Ready-to-wear Ready-to-wear, known in French as prêt-à-porter, differs from couture principally in that garments are designed to be produced repeatedly rather than for a single wearer.

— Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026
One family had become an institution, while the other remained a collection of individuals connected principally by ownership.

— Walid Chiniara, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of principally

Adverb

Osborne, fighting for a first down, fumbled the ball, basically putting in Hickman-Collins’ stomach as the defender was on his back at the Huskies’ 22.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
Bri reached basically the same conclusion without bothering with the cardio experiment.

— Kevin Fanady, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of basically

Adverb

The state is generally a Republican stronghold and has trended to the right over the last decade.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2026
The songs chosen for the soundtrack are generally intrusive and often chronologically inappropriate, though scenes in which bands are onscreen playing bop and R&B get it right.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of generally

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mainlands

mainly

main man

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“Mainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mainly. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of mainly

adverb

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