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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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 Japanese laborers had been migrating to Hawaii since the 1890s, mainly to work on sugar plantations. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 21 Aug. 2026 Another isolated shower or storm chance arrives Sunday, mainly across southern Minnesota, but most of the weekend should remain dry. — Joseph Dames, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026 Chase is the call for me, mainly because of Nacua’s escalated injury risk. — Jess Bryant, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Roman science consisted mainly of improving technologies in civil engineering (water and road systems) and warfare, compiling medical knowledge, and developing tools for specialized uses. — Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mainly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mainly

Adverb

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning that applies to more than 1 million people in San Diego County, mostly across inland valleys, foothills and mountains where high temperatures will approach or exceed 95 to 114 degrees.

— Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Aug. 2026
After all, horror isn’t exactly a Broadway staple and producers have mostly given up that particular ghost.

— Frank Rizzo, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of mostly

Adverb

The duties also apply to kraftliner, which is a strong paperboard, primarily used in the outer layer of cardboard boxes.

— Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
The city began planning the renovation of 16th Street in 2007, primarily attributing the increasing maintenance costs of its granite paver surface as the need for it.

— Logan Smith, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of primarily

Adverb

Today, other drugs are more often deployed, chiefly benzodiazepines or the benzodiazepine Clonazepam, which also render a person zombie-like and more reliably submissive.

— Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
Beyond overall car performance, a pressing concern for Cadillac this year has been reliability, chiefly recurring brake overheating issues (below).

— Luke Smith, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of chiefly

Adverb

The economic outlook is also largely positive despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Other sailors described to CNN conditions unlike their previous deployments, largely because of the war, which stopped the ship from making stops at friendly ports.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

Another complaint has been that the newspaper has been mostly an aggregator of news instead of providing predominantly original news.

— Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
The participants were predominantly White healthcare professionals, meaning the findings need to be confirmed across diverse populations, the team acknowledged.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of predominantly

Adverb

Arsenal and Galatasaray have been in dialogue over several players, principally Martinelli — but there are no active negotiations over a potential transfer for Osimhen.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Trade along the route remains tiny compared with major throughways like the Suez Canal and is dominated by Russian oil and gas, which – along with a few other LNG buyers in Asia – principally flow to China.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of principally

Adverb

Asians generally have longer life expectancies than those outside the region—but longer lives aren’t the same as healthier ones.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Deployed as a No 10 and later as a striker, Wissa epitomised all that was good about Newcastle with his energy and drive, leaving a trail of Liverpool players in his wake in the lead-up to the second goal and generally inspiring those around him.

— Stuart James, New York Times, 25 Aug. 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 26 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of mainly

adverb

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