Thesaurus results for MERELY

merely

adverb

ˈmir-lē

Definition of merely

as in just

nothing more than the outside noise was merely a raccoon knocking over the garbage can

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 merely The Qataris did not give Trump a $400 million jumbo jet merely out of friendship. — Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 14 Sep. 2026 What matters is that Muslim Americans are no longer merely a constituency to be courted, feared, or explained. — Ayman M. Mohyeldin, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026 The lifespan of an adult butterfly varies as well, from merely a few days or weeks to as long as several months. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 10 Sep. 2026 And that is far from all, as the bond market has not been revolting against merely a single pledge. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for merely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for merely

Adverb

Researchers want the reactor package to fit inside just two cubic meters.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
Put simply, Chinese EVs are just better than a lot of the competition, says Howard Yu, a professor of management and innovation at IMD Business School and codirector of the Future Readiness program, which evaluates global car manufacturers.

— Sam Forsdick, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of just

Adverb

Set the scene On rugged John’s Island 40 minutes outside of Charleston, Auberge’s Lowcountry debut deftly centers the coastal charm of the South Carolina sea islands—the second most bioactive habitat in the world, after only the Amazon Rainforest.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Solar panels generate electricity only when sunlight is available, but power demand can remain high after sunset or rise sharply at other times of the day.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of only

Adverb

The main restaurant, simply called the Dining Room, received a lot of attention during the renovation.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
There is no compelling plotline to give the movie momentum, and there are slack moments when the set pieces simply don’t work.

— Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of simply

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mere

merely

meres

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“Merely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merely. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of merely

adverb

Example Sentences

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