PASSIVELY Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

passively

adverb

Definition of passively

as in meekly

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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 passively Upon landing, the craft passively self-rights and transitions its dual wingsails to wind propulsion without active morphing, achieving a high 91 percent effective mass usage across air and water. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026 The film instead passively constructs Tessa’s world as a colorblind one, in which racial difference simply never comes up. — Beandrea July, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026 Instead of taking background measurements every few minutes as on the Series 11, these new sensors passively record your heart rate every five seconds, complemented by upgraded electrical sensors for ECG readings. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 10 Sep. 2026 The answer is to not passively accept what is given but to organize to make our voices heard. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026 Americans could buy a diversified index fund, passively hold it for the long-term and reap the rewards. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Because beamforming reports are broadcast back to the access point in the clear, a Wi-Fi adapter within range can passively record them in monitor mode. — New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026 Teams that use this scheme typically play more passively up front. — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The discussion becomes richer because the audience is no longer receiving information passively. — Chiara Alzati, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for passively

Adverb

His recollections often take the form of dialogues in which interlocutors meekly acknowledge his overwhelming rhetorical advantage.

— Ian Parker, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
When Luke tells him, meekly, not to touch Crystal, Max only wants to know who the young man is.

— JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 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

That’s a pretty evocative setting for a film, with the perpetual drone and roar of fighter jets overhead and an air of constricting menace pervading what should otherwise be placidly idle summer hours.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of placidly

Adverb

On the other side of Via Solari, a handful of policemen gathered around dozens of demonstrators, who ardently—but peacefully—chanted for entirely different reasons.

— José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 28 Sep. 2026
His death was announced GWAR bass player Casey Orr, who said Varga, who during his time with the band sometimes played the character Sexicutioner, died peacefully with wife Bambi at his side.

— Greg Evans, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of peacefully

Adverb

Murray reacted coolly as the ice water cascaded over him, standing up and clapping his hands while walking it off.

— Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 24 Sep. 2026
Then, on the very next series, Philo coolly dropped back on third-and-11 – with the crowd going bonkers – and fired a 20-yard TD strike to Dallas Wilson.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of coolly

Adverb

Our low, bargelike vessel drifts serenely, unhurriedly along the brown river.

— Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
Nestled serenely in northern South Dakota on Native American land and surrounded by livestock and crops as far as the eye can see, Timber Lake is a ranching community with two pumps serving regular gas and no stoplights.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of serenely

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“Passively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passively. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of passively

adverb

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