as in meekly
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Recent Examples of passively
Published in the journal Innovation in Aging, the report suggested that those engaging passively with culture, by attending a performance or visiting a gallery, and those participating in the arts—for example, by painting, singing, or sculpting—benefited equally.
—
News Desk, Artforum, 13 May 2026
Because what could be more depressing than just passively watching the world burn and melt and crumble?
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
The significance of the reader/viewer as an active recipient of media messages contests notions of audiences passively accepting the hegemonic discourses channeled through the media.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Getting outside and doing hands-on learning is more engaging than sitting in a classroom passively learning by lecture, because active learning engages more regions of the brain, resulting in better understanding and retention of concepts.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
The president, who is the world’s oldest, sat passively as Leo read his speech in French.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Before ChatGPT, about one in three successfully figured it out, independently connecting pretty potent dots for scientific thinking rather than passively absorbing another fact.
—ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026
The system is designed to operate passively, capturing data in the background without requiring interaction.
—New Atlas, 1 Apr. 2026
According to Hoskins, certain houseplant species, such as snake plants, spider plants, and Chinese evergreens, can passively remove VOCs in small quantities.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 30 Mar. 2026
News Desk, Artforum, 13 May 2026
Because what could be more depressing than just passively watching the world burn and melt and crumble?
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
The significance of the reader/viewer as an active recipient of media messages contests notions of audiences passively accepting the hegemonic discourses channeled through the media.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Getting outside and doing hands-on learning is more engaging than sitting in a classroom passively learning by lecture, because active learning engages more regions of the brain, resulting in better understanding and retention of concepts.
—Shelley Mitchell, The Conversation, 23 Apr. 2026
The president, who is the world’s oldest, sat passively as Leo read his speech in French.
—Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
Before ChatGPT, about one in three successfully figured it out, independently connecting pretty potent dots for scientific thinking rather than passively absorbing another fact.
—ArsTechnica, 13 Apr. 2026
The system is designed to operate passively, capturing data in the background without requiring interaction.
—New Atlas, 1 Apr. 2026
According to Hoskins, certain houseplant species, such as snake plants, spider plants, and Chinese evergreens, can passively remove VOCs in small quantities.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passively
Adverb
-
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
-
That was checkmate, as Martinez grounded out meekly to end the season.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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
-
One of the giants of French cinema sitting calmly beneath a bird that has mistaken him for part of the furniture.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
So Higgo, unaware of the consequences of the decision before him, just calmly tossed another ball on the practice green and hit one more putt.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
14 May 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
-
In 1965, Black Americans peacefully demonstrated for voting rights and were beaten by Alabama state troopers before returning two weeks later to complete their march under federal protection.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 May 2026
-
These frictions are generally kept out of view, and the two perspectives cohabitate peacefully as orthodoxy in economics and public debates.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Adverb
-
In any other historical period, proposing such a career trajectory would’ve seemed mildly insane — like if Peter Buck had followed up Fables of the Reconstruction by producing Whitney Houston instead of the Feelies.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
14 May 2026
-
In August 2024, Lebron, a mildly successful beauty creator on TikTok who had to work shifts at her local grocery store to pay her bills, uploaded a fateful video.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
James handled the disappointment by stepping up and coolly taking charge of the Lakers' offense again.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
Both singers seemed so coolly detached yet their words and melodies were utterly compelling and evoked so much longing.—
Liza Lentini,
SPIN,
8 May 2026
Adverb
-
One of the spaces is serenely accented in all white and features rounded paneling that can open or close depending on the client’s preference for privacy.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
3 Apr. 2026
-
From the world’s vantage point, Los Angeles can look like a place that glides serenely along beneath a beatific sun.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Passively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passively. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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