as in meekly
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Recent Examples of passively
Seven out of the 10 dogs successfully learned the names of their new toy stingrays and armadillos from passively listening to their owners.
—
Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The first test saw owners introduce two new toys and repeatedly label them while interacting directly with the dog, before the dogs then passively watched as their owners spoke to another person about the toys, without addressing the dog at all, in a second situation.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Toddlers learn new words in many ways, including passively listening to interactions between adults.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2026
The idea, say backers of the new program, is to reach people who are used to giving content a swipe on a mobile phone, rather than those who sit back and passively swoon in front of a more traditional screen.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
What sets this development apart is the shift from passively reporting problems to actively resolving them.
—Norbert Jung, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
More ambitious ideas include seats that passively adapt to the occupant’s center of gravity, systems that allow greater recline in less space, or even integrated massage functions.
—New Atlas, 16 Dec. 2025
In contrast, ETFs effectively hold the cryptocurrency passively and issue shares backed one-to-one with the actual asset.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2025
Moreover, the fifth-gen submarine also has an electronic surveillance suite that can intercept and classify enemy signals passively, feeding data into NATO’s broader intelligence networks.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
The first test saw owners introduce two new toys and repeatedly label them while interacting directly with the dog, before the dogs then passively watched as their owners spoke to another person about the toys, without addressing the dog at all, in a second situation.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Toddlers learn new words in many ways, including passively listening to interactions between adults.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 8 Jan. 2026
The idea, say backers of the new program, is to reach people who are used to giving content a swipe on a mobile phone, rather than those who sit back and passively swoon in front of a more traditional screen.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
What sets this development apart is the shift from passively reporting problems to actively resolving them.
—Norbert Jung, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025
More ambitious ideas include seats that passively adapt to the occupant’s center of gravity, systems that allow greater recline in less space, or even integrated massage functions.
—New Atlas, 16 Dec. 2025
In contrast, ETFs effectively hold the cryptocurrency passively and issue shares backed one-to-one with the actual asset.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2025
Moreover, the fifth-gen submarine also has an electronic surveillance suite that can intercept and classify enemy signals passively, feeding data into NATO’s broader intelligence networks.
—Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 27 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passively
Adverb
-
Ball handlers would dribble close to the basket, only to meekly back away, sensing him looming.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Dec. 2025
-
In other words, students prepare for citizenship in a disputatious society by practicing the civic arts—by asserting and advocating for their views—not by meekly absorbing lessons from their instructors.—
Christopher L. Eisgruber,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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Dominik Szoboszlai had just squandered a golden chance by firing tamely into the arms of Emiliano Martinez after winning the ball back high up the field when the Kop parked their frustration and vocally declared their unwavering faith in the Dutchman.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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That test soon divides matter, even for a far from sensitive ear, into what reads well & what reads tamely, haltingly, jerkily, lopsidedly, top-heavily, or otherwise badly.—
Ben Yagoda,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
If someone talks over you, stay generous yet firm and restate your idea calmly, because centered delivery often wins the room.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
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The hooded figure is seen walking calmly in an alleyway near the couple's home around the time the killings are believed to have occurred.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Often neglected are the two whorled figures, strolling placidly in the background.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
6 Dec. 2025
-
All three kittens were in a cage in the trunk of their minivan, placidly watching us.—
Tao Lin,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Thousands of people have peacefully made their voices heard.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
9 Jan. 2026
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A little more than a century after Davis’ death, a former American president, Richard Nixon, would die peacefully in bed.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
How Baking Soda In Beans Prevents Gas Not to get too complicated, but sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is a mildly alkaline compound that can neutralize acids by releasing bicarbonate ions, raising the pH of its environment.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
30 Dec. 2025
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Belton said he was mildly annoyed that there hadn’t been more advertising about the change.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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Goetz fled the scene after speaking briefly and coolly to the train conductor.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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Also bent on finding the stone are sadistic rebel commander Captain Poison (David Harewood, oozing evil) and the coolly calculating Colonel (Arnold Vosloo), Danny’s one-time mentor as a soldier-for-hire.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
For nearly four decades, the foundation operated serenely.—
Alice Gregory,
New Yorker,
16 Nov. 2025
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Only chief technology officer John Tornow, who pressed Send from mission control, was serenely confident.—
Graydon Carter,
Air Mail,
1 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Passively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passively. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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