as in meekly
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Recent Examples of passively
By passively monitoring and flagging possible signs of hypertension, Apple Watch helps fill a dangerous gap in diagnosis.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In round 2, shown on the right panel, the testing contingency remains the same except for the addition of a social facilitator bird in the adjacent room of the control subject, who sits on the perch passively without performing any action.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Watching passively only serves the interests of the social media companies.
—Annie Margaret, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Watching passively only serves the interests of the social media companies.
—Annie Margaret, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
Lily the entrepreneur-warrior-hunter may try to actively determine the course of her own life, but she’s also portrayed as passively in the tidal grip of large impersonal forces like money, desire, and different social rules for women and men.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
The assumption was that when one species splits from another, the two new forms passively evolve away from each other, drifting solo on their evolutionary paths like two untethered buoys at sea.
—Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
These tools only listen passively.
—Adam Stone, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
As a riff on the British whodunit, Columbus’ film is simply a cozy, and perhaps an all too simple, affair — nothing more than a jigsaw puzzle that neither challenges nor frustrates, but only passively entertains.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2025
In round 2, shown on the right panel, the testing contingency remains the same except for the addition of a social facilitator bird in the adjacent room of the control subject, who sits on the perch passively without performing any action.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Watching passively only serves the interests of the social media companies.
—Annie Margaret, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025
Watching passively only serves the interests of the social media companies.
—Annie Margaret, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
Lily the entrepreneur-warrior-hunter may try to actively determine the course of her own life, but she’s also portrayed as passively in the tidal grip of large impersonal forces like money, desire, and different social rules for women and men.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
The assumption was that when one species splits from another, the two new forms passively evolve away from each other, drifting solo on their evolutionary paths like two untethered buoys at sea.
—Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 28 Aug. 2025
These tools only listen passively.
—Adam Stone, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
As a riff on the British whodunit, Columbus’ film is simply a cozy, and perhaps an all too simple, affair — nothing more than a jigsaw puzzle that neither challenges nor frustrates, but only passively entertains.
—Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for passively
Adverb
-
City succumbed too meekly given their spine included Ruben Dias, John Stones, Rodri and Haaland at the end of the match.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
1 Sep. 2025
-
United finished 15th in the Premier League, their lowest league position since they were relegated in 1974, and surrendered meekly to Tottenham in the Europa League final.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Wilson Isidor’s shot was unthreatening enough but Hermansen’s attempts to push it around his post were fluffed, allowing the ball to bounce tamely into the corner.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Crouched down in her jump seat hiding from the hijackers, Ong calmly reported their names and seat numbers to the FBI before her death.—
Michael Goldstein,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The Prime Video series ends with a horrified Daniel looking at Cherry, who's shown smiling at him with her hands calmly resting on very pregnant belly.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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All three kittens were in a cage in the trunk of their minivan, placidly watching us.—
Tao Lin,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
-
One goalkeeper robot stood placidly as its opponent kicked a ball at its legs several times before finally managing to score.—
Yan Zhuang,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Adverb
-
Lend your support to those who are peacefully campaigning for Palestine.—
Hira Humayun,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Redford passed away peacefully at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by family.—
Hannah Parry
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Is this mildly better than before, between last night’s update and next Tuesday’s patch?—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Try the curry and other unlisted offerings Cranston’s favorite is Japanese curry, a mildly spiced and slightly sweet, rich brown curry sauce served with steamed rice.—
Lennie Omalza,
The Courier-Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Esther is smiling; Bella looks coolly down her nose and into the lens.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Charismatic and coolly intelligent, Gray was a perfect early platform for Washington’s leading-man chops.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Passively.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/passively. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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