MOSTLY Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

mostly

adverb

ˈmōst-lē

Definition of mostly

as in mainly

for the most part the weather this month has been mostly mild

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 mostly The Carolina Panthers mostly struggled on Sunday afternoon and made a late-game mistake that paved the way for a Cleveland Browns go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes to go. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Sep. 2026 Guests are mostly left to their own devices, but with the perks of thoughtful touches like s’mores kits to use around the firepit on the outdoor patio. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026 Their populations have risen in the last decade from new immigrant arrivals, mostly from Cuba and Haiti, according to federal data obtained and analyzed by The Associated Press. — Heather Hollingsworth, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026 The events leading the FBI to Kaczynski in the film are mostly accurate to real life. — Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mostly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mostly

Adverb

The changes mainly pertain to nonresident waterfowl hunting hours, reopening the fall turkey season, and changes to state park entrance and camping fees.

— Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
The charges stemmed from fighting more than a decade ago between the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels who seized power from then-President François Bozizé, and a mainly Christian militia called the anti-Balaka.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of mainly

Adverb

The resort is adults-only and designed primarily for couples rather than groups, with bookings limited to two rooms with two guests per room.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
Reinhart’s character, Olive Smith, is primarily seen wearing her lab coat, but outside of the laboratory, she is dressed in red, blue and green outfits.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of primarily

Adverb

The state has been using those surpluses chiefly to build reserves and reduce the state’s hefty pension debt, which still exceeds $30 billion.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026
Dostoyevsky’s sniveling devil comes closest to portraying the man chiefly responsible for organizing the Final Solution.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of chiefly

Adverb

Vargo has largely self-funded her run for commissioner through personal loans to her campaign totaling more than $77,000, according to campaign finance records.

— Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
The review has intensified debate over Israel’s claims that some slain reporters were militants, as foreign journalists remain largely barred from entering Gaza.

— Joseph Krauss, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

The charges stemmed from fighting more than a decade ago between the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels who seized power from then-President François Bozizé, and a mainly Christian militia called the anti-Balaka.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
Another collaboration under The Whitaker Group’s umbrella comes via the Jaide x Air Jordan 1 Low, which predominantly appears in black and white but features a Tiffany blue from midfoot to heel.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of predominantly

Adverb

Pretoria wants American investors to build smelters, factories, and processing facilities in South Africa, rather than relying principally on conventional offtake agreements with local mines.

— Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Federal regulators already treat it differently from many other digital assets, and the legislation was principally intended to create a broader framework governing how cryptocurrencies are issued, sold and regulated.

— Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of principally

Adverb

No, the Unabomber, a onetime math genius and professor named Ted Kaczynski, was basically a hermit nerd in a Montana cabin who mailed bombs to scientists, engineers, professors, and other elites.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026
Attackers basically do not need coding skills to launch harmful cyberattacks.

— Eric Herzog, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of basically

Adverb

Guest speakers are generally informed and enthusiastic, offering lectures relating to the culture and history of the sailing region.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
This is on top of Perez Hilton and plenty of other sites (Gawker included) that would just flat-out insult people, draw nasty things on their pictures, and just generally malign them.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of generally

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most

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“Mostly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mostly. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of mostly

adverb

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