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

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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 According to Forbes, these programs mainly appeal to customers with low financial stability, while simultaneously charging higher fees than credit card companies—making the short-term gain ultimately not worth the long-term cost. — Bee Wertheimer, PC Magazine, 24 July 2026 Cagnoni, Allan, and Havelid all played mainly with the Barracuda last season. — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 24 July 2026 Operating expenses increased 16% to $940 million, mainly driven by sports costs associated with the FIFA World Cup. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 23 July 2026 If their value lies mainly in carrying out a task defined by someone else, then a faster and cheaper tool poses an obvious threat. — Ray Ravaglia, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mainly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mainly

Adverb

Hughes’ fall on this list mostly stems from major growth from others above him and the lack of term left on his deal.

— Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 22 July 2026
That case focused mostly on the details of the knife attack itself; the federal one delves more into questions of motive.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026

Definition of mostly

Adverb

Its main weapons bay is associated primarily with long-range air-to-air missiles, while smaller side bays carry short-range missiles.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 26 July 2026
How Renewable Energy Can Better Protect Ecosystems Traditional sustainability metrics have long focused primarily on emissions.

— Indrabati Lahiri, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of primarily

Adverb

But Elliot’s best argument is ultimately himself—chiefly, his own vigorous libido, which his workaholic medical-student girlfriend, Minerva (a deader-than-deadpan Charli XCX), has long since lost interest in satiating.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
But this is surely the least fabled World Cup in history, and remembered chiefly for the political tensions shortly before the following year’s outbreak of the Second World War.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of chiefly

Adverb

As camera adoption has become more widespread in recent years, those concerns have largely faded away, according to Common Council President Sabrina Madison.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
What today's affordable new homes offer—and the tradeoffs Where buyers are most likely to find a deal on new construction depends largely on the local market.

— Mike Winters, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

Once known predominantly for projecting educational installations at museums and aquariums, IMAX spent decades trying to break into the mainstream, though its limited network of theatres and analog-only format proved prohibitive for major studios.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
So have members of the predominantly Black church where her body was discovered May 8.

— Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026

Definition of predominantly

Adverb

The cast is principally composed of UC Irvine students, past and present, with a few guest artists in the mix.

— Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Although some of these new institutions may adopt the name college, they won't be architected around classrooms and their business model won't be principally tuition-based.

— Ryan Craig, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of principally

Adverb

Tournament football isn’t generally conducive to pressing, with so many matches squeezed into such a short window, and without the cohesion that comes from club sides training together for months.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Checks are generally distributed on Wednesdays, based on the day of the month you were born.

— Brian Sloan, CNBC, 21 July 2026

Definition of generally

Browse Nearby Words

mainlands

mainly

main man

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“Mainly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mainly. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of mainly

adverb

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