Synonyms of merely

merely

adverb

ˈmir-lē 

as in just

nothing more than

the outside noise was merely a raccoon knocking over the garbage can

Synonyms & Similar Words

• just
• only
• simply
• purely
• but

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of merely

No one in production knows much about anything, and all the behind-the-scenes people are merely pretending, just like actors. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 29 July 2026

Once the gatekeeping mechanism becomes unreliable, merit is no longer merely difficult to prove. — Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

This coastal line is merely Phase 1 of a 1,500-kilometer high-speed network, slated for completion by 2030, when Morocco is co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup. — Joe Mathews, Mercury News, 28 July 2026

That price is expected to be exorbitant, even though Skubal is eligible for free agency at the end of the season and amounts to merely a rental for the rest of 2026. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 28 July 2026