PASSIVELY Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

passively

adverb

Definition of passively

as in meekly

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 And, of course, all my various resource gathering teams are working passively to give me piles of materials. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026 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 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

Effective negotiation involves approaching discussions calmly, thorough preparation by understanding all parties' needs and alternatives, and utilizing strong communication skills like active listening.

— Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
In fact, long before Ricky and Tepper’s bizarro movie night, that same news anchor (Ryan Perez) sits in a field behind a rundown building, calmly announcing Armageddon as a pack of zombies closes in.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 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

According to her obituary from Laird Funeral Home, Moylan died peacefully on Monday, July 27, after a struggle with dementia.

— Rick West, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
It is set in Mano Majra, a fictional village on the new frontier between India and Pakistan, where Sikh and Muslim families have lived together peacefully for generations.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

Definition of peacefully

Adverb

Next to me, a woman with colorful tattoo sleeves and a tasseled leather satchel nods coolly behind her sunglasses.

— Nick H. Penniman, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2026
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

Definition of coolly

Adverb

The camera then panned to a cool and collected Moore, who could be seen serenely watching the frenzy from a chair in the corner.

— Lara Walsh, InStyle, 25 July 2026
With 25 suites projecting from a central lodge—with the exception of a four-bedroom suite looking over the entire property down toward the dramatic oceanfront—the mood here is serenely residential.

— Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 23 July 2026

Definition of serenely

Browse Nearby Words

passive

passively

passiveness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of passively

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

élan

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes