PASSIVELY Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

passively

adverb

Definition of passively

as in meekly

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of passively Altitude control comes from changing overall motor thrust, and its spinning nature makes the drone passively stable. — IEEE Spectrum, 16 July 2026 Wearable solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly into daily life, collecting data passively and allowing it to be shared with clinicians, partners, or support networks when needed. — Matt Emma, USA Today, 14 July 2026 Less noise, more space to actually think instead of passively consuming. — Casey Delbasso, ABC News, 14 July 2026 Underwater, the wings passively bend up to 90%, which cuts the load on the motor and shortens the effective sweep of each flap. — New Atlas, 13 July 2026 Traveling such vast distances between our solar system's most remote objects means New Horizons often cruises for months at a time with little to do other than passively collect data. — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 8 July 2026 The answers are still emerging, but this study offers hope that rather than passively enduring the storm, young white sharks showed flexibility, mobility and resilience. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 The people who are going to make a difference are not the ones who seek relaxation and passively use AI to work less. — David Brooks, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026 Antares Nuclear’s Mark-0 employs sodium heat pipes that passively transfer heat away from the reactor core without using power. — Idaho Statesman, 25 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for passively

Adverb

Sincere meekly hands her a flower from his pocket and sits down, appearing penitent.

— Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Whether a man chose to use that pistol or meekly give up the money to a robber was up to him.

— Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026

Definition of meekly

Adverb

Once the players returned to the field, Diaz inexplicably tried a Panenka-style chip and his weak penalty sailed tamely into the arms of Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

— Reuters, NBC news, 18 Jan. 2026
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

Definition of tamely

Adverb

If the illusion is successful, the decoy serves the purpose of attracting attention from opponents aiming to distract the penalty taker, while the real penalty taker can quietly prepare in the periphery, calmly focusing on his kick.

— Geir Jordet, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Mikel Oyarzabal calmly buried his shot to give Spain a 1-0 lead.

— Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 14 July 2026

Definition of calmly

Adverb

The waters of a continent – west from the Rockies and east from the Appalachians – pour into it, sometimes violently, sometimes placidly.

— Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 24 June 2026
Nature is no big deal in Cristian Mungiu‘s superb new drama of systemic order and individual disarray, which takes in the sprawling waters and monochrome mountainscapes of the region with a placidly appreciative eye.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 18 May 2026

Definition of placidly

Adverb

The two turtles now peacefully explore their habitat together while still giving each other space.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
Perhaps this game, whatever the result, will come and go relatively peacefully, with no incidents to speak of and no new Argentinian ‘villains’ in the collective English consciousness.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of peacefully

Adverb

For most, collecting Panini stickers is a low-stakes, mildly addictive way to get caught up in World Cup fever and be part of a social scene where fútbol is a point of national pride and identity.

— Maria Jose Gutierrez-Chavez, Curbed, 17 July 2026
In Tapachula, the main city on Mexico’s southern border, the tremor began mildly but gradually intensified.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026

Definition of mildly

Adverb

Malik Tillman stepped up and coolly scored on the free kick, his shot deflecting into the net off a Belgian player who was jumping as part of a wall.

— Andrew Greif, NBC news, 7 July 2026
The Australian queen of coolly-observing-bohemia is one of my favorite 2026 discoveries.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 July 2026

Definition of coolly

Adverb

Ahead, Toyota team principal Kobayashi ran serenely to the finish in the No 7, even with Frijns’ pass on Buemi increasing the pressure.

— Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 14 June 2026
After 50 minutes of self-satisfaction, the hero fades serenely into a sunset that Dudamel made miraculously mystical.

— Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026

Definition of serenely

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“Passively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passively. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of passively

adverb

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