as in meekly
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Recent Examples of passively
Not passively reading about it.
—
Matt Shumer, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
For anyone who has only passively kept up with the Epstein story, this is hard to wrap one’s head around.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
There, the camera also swirls around the surreal landmark of a Bill Clinton statue, watching passively over the bustle of the city from a lofty height.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
Only 39% update immediately when prompted, while 61% delay, dismiss or passively handle updates.
—Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Neptune in Aries is about initiating the dream, embodying it, and fighting for a vision rather than passively hoping for one.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 25 Jan. 2026
Your brain is not passively wearing down with age.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Understanding Foundation Vents Foundation vents are openings that allow air to passively move in and out through your crawl space.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2026
The project relied on individuals downloading a client program to their home PC designed to parse data passively collected by a 984-foot-wide radio telescope at the now-shuttered Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Matt Shumer, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026
For anyone who has only passively kept up with the Epstein story, this is hard to wrap one’s head around.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
There, the camera also swirls around the surreal landmark of a Bill Clinton statue, watching passively over the bustle of the city from a lofty height.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
Only 39% update immediately when prompted, while 61% delay, dismiss or passively handle updates.
—Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Neptune in Aries is about initiating the dream, embodying it, and fighting for a vision rather than passively hoping for one.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 25 Jan. 2026
Your brain is not passively wearing down with age.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Understanding Foundation Vents Foundation vents are openings that allow air to passively move in and out through your crawl space.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2026
The project relied on individuals downloading a client program to their home PC designed to parse data passively collected by a 984-foot-wide radio telescope at the now-shuttered Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passively
Adverb
-
Moreover, the notion the public will meekly accept weaker radiation standards without explanation seems foolhardy.—
Katy Huff,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Ball handlers would dribble close to the basket, only to meekly back away, sensing him looming.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
17 Dec. 2025
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
Adverb
-
Binnington got down low, and when Nečas went to his backhand, Binnington went hard to his right and made a clean save with his right pad, calmly covering the puck with his left hand and stopping play.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
But then The Father takes it even further, calmly asking his daughter Anna (Riley Keough) to describe Martha’s breasts.—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
15 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
That sequence also introduces a placidly smiley Kylie Jenner playing herself on seemingly a Valium-Adderall speedball of deluded bounciness.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Often neglected are the two whorled figures, strolling placidly in the background.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
6 Dec. 2025
Adverb
-
Duvall died peacefully in his home in Middleburg, Virginia, with his wife at his side, according to a statement from his family.—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.—
Glen Weldon,
NPR,
16 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Walker offers this diagnosis himself, leeringly dismissing Pearl as a silly mommy, awash with hormones, mildly and minorly hysterical.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
-
This toasty sweater is perfect for layering over my Uniqlo HeatTech shirts for maximum warmth or wearing over a cami on those in-between mildly warmer winter days.—
Amber Love Bond,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Castle made a putback dunk off Jeremiah Fears’ miss to pull Team Melo within one point of victory, but Edgecombe drew a foul from Donovan Clingan and coolly hit both free throws to end it at 25-24.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Castle made a putback dunk off Jeremiah Fears’ miss to pull Team Melo within one point of victory in the final, but Edgecombe drew a foul from Donovan Clingan and coolly hit both free throws to end it at 25-24.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Head to Rin-Tei, a tiny and serenely spare spot at the intersection of Crystal Springs Road and El Camino in San Mateo that oozes zen.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
For nearly four decades, the foundation operated serenely.—
Alice Gregory,
New Yorker,
16 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Passively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passively. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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