PLEASANTLY Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

pleasantly

adverb

Definition of pleasantly

as in nicely

in a pleasing way we were pleasantly surprised by their offer to put us up for the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pleasantly As a side sleeper, contributor Yelena Alpert was pleasantly surprised by the Tempur-Cloud Pillow’s soft-yet-firm balancing act. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Aug. 2026 But slightly judgmental hipster associations aside, this is a top performing cocktail shaker with a pleasantly available price tag. — Justine Sterling, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 2026 The gandules hold their shape, with a bite that’s a bit firmer than a black bean, and a pleasantly farinaceous center. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 My son and father-in-law even took a reluctant bite and both were pleasantly surprised. — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 29 July 2026 You could be pleasantly surprised by someone’s response to an uncomfortable situation. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026 Collaborating with her brother, the Copenhagen composer takes a whimsical left turn on a sprawling, pleasantly busy new album. — Shaad D’souza, Pitchfork, 22 July 2026 Not another soul, and everywhere the sea, on all sides, slate colored and pleasantly unwelcoming. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026 Some who tried the beverage were pleasantly surprised by its taste. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 15 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantly

Adverb

The timing shook out nicely, considering Berg would go on to be tapped to succeed Don Garber as MLS’ next commissioner and has subsequently been tasked with unloading his sizable ownership stake in LAFC.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Cyrus, 64, cleaned up nicely in a black John Varvatos suit, leaving his the collar of his white shirt unbuttoned.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of nicely

Adverb

With juicy bursts of fresh fruit, the result is deliciously smooth, custardy, and bright.

— Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2026
Easy to make and even easier to eat, this crustless wonder caramelizes on the outside while the inside stays deliciously creamy.

— Marti Buckley, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of deliciously

Adverb

Faith King and Josiah Fagerstrom both deliver delightfully prickly repartee as their characters gradually manage to surpass archetype.

— Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 10 Aug. 2026
However, when cooked properly, okra can develop a delightfully crisp and pleasant texture or be cooked until soft and melting.

— Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of delightfully

Adverb

But Malonga soon too will push the rebuilding Storm to future deep postseason runs like the ex-Storm great once did.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Hit really well in the first half, and second half didn’t go as great, and kind of didn’t end up great at the end of the year.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of great

Adverb

Lowe used to be a member of a much larger and more popular right-wing populist party, Nigel Farage’s Reform, but he was forced out in an enjoyably catty and melodramatic schism after calling for mass deportations.

— Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 26 July 2026
Align your recurring activities with genuine interests to increase the likelihood of hours accumulating more naturally and enjoyably.

— Wes Moss, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of enjoyably

Adverb

Reggie Bannister, the actor best known for playing the iconic ice cream man Reggie in the Phantasm horror film series, has died peacefully at his home Sunday at 80.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
The former Cardinals coordinator is expected to continue the under-center system with a heavy dose of play-action, a system better suited for Jared Goff than former Cardinals QB Kyler Murray.

— Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of well

Adverb

The best type of tea to re-steep is anything that starts very potent, or features tea leaves that are on the larger, coarser side, rather than finely ground.

— Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2026
Find out for yourself in this finely detailed and utterly absorbing book, which reads like a thriller of the highest order.

— Air Mail, Air Mail, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of finely

Adverb

Settling the score, meanwhile, is Randy Newman, whose fourth Pixar collaboration ambles along agreeably, accompanied by drivin’ tunes performed by Rascal Flatts, Sheryl Crow and Brad Paisley that are perfect for coasting along those alternate routes.

— Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2026
To that end, the writer-director, Chandler Levack, establishes an agreeably slapdash attitude of hedonistic adventure, one that’s often intentionally borderline cringe.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 12 Apr. 2026

Definition of agreeably

Browse Nearby Words

pleasant

pleasantly

pleasantness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pleasantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantly. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pleasantly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gnomic

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes