1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

mercifully

adverb

Definition of mercifullynext
as in sympathetically

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 mercifully Wilson showed, with rigorous calculations, why the smaller scales bleed through to our level in mercifully few ways. — Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026 With a few wonderful exceptions that proved the rule (The Good Place, New Girl), the network sitcom landscape of the 2010s was a graveyard of glib titles, gimmicky premises, and mercifully short runs. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Naturally, there’s a sort of torture dungeon on the premises, which for the time being his guests are mercifully unaware of. — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 July 2026 Beth’s death, on the other hand, is mercifully quiet and peaceful. — Sarah Chihaya, Vulture, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for mercifully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mercifully
  1. sympathetically
  2. charitably
  3. graciously
  4. compassionately
  5. humanely
  6. tolerantly
  7. lovingly
  8. benevolently
Adverb
  • After leaving the stand, Susan nodded sympathetically to Lindsay.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Many locals have come to view him sympathetically, as an addict drawn back into a life of drug abuse, that also happened to include high-level drug dealing.
    — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of sympathetically
Adverb
  • Duplan was, charitably, a poor leader.
    — Theo Baker, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The new Beaches is most charitably viewed as an oldies act for a movie.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Definition of charitably
Adverb
  • There have been some updates, so please check the schedule here and come listen to the candidates who've so graciously accepted our invite to speak.
    — Marissa Payne, Des Moines Register, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In a season that can graciously be described as gloomy, right-hander Randy Dobnak has been a bright spot for the Royals.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of graciously
Adverb
  • Psychiatry is the work of building the airplane while flying it carefully, collaboratively, and compassionately, as conditions may change midair.
    — Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026
  • When delivered compassionately, a no communicates and models a strong sense of judgment as an executive.
    — Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of compassionately
Adverb
  • On Tuesday, the zoo announced that Machi was humanely euthanized over the weekend.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
  • He was humanely euthanized by wildlife officials later that same month.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of humanely
Adverb
  • Maggie also smiles tolerantly when Hank keeps his hand on her knee for a few beats too many, or leans in close during chats.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Definition of tolerantly
Adverb
  • The music had to come first, with Lehman and Khan working closely to craft dance remixes that would feel vital and current while lovingly referencing all corners of South Asian culture and the South Asian American experience as well.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Margot Robbie talks lovingly about the cocaine scene in 1900.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of lovingly
Adverb
  • To be a builder is to be high agency, to contribute benevolently to society, to be the man in the arena.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
  • Vance Joseph tried outfitting himself in a modest tone, even if his unit hasn’t exactly acted benevolently toward its training camp counterpart.
    — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 5 Aug. 2025
Definition of benevolently

Browse Nearby Words

merciful
mercifully
mercifulness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mercifully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mercifully. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nemesis

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All