pleasantly

adverb

Definition of pleasantlynext
as in nicely
in a pleasing way we were pleasantly surprised by their offer to put us up for the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Neither of them lives full-time in New York anymore; Kessler spends much of his time in Barcelona, and Banks is pleasantly ensconced in Berlin with his wife and two young children. — Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026 Lavender Lavender is a popular garden perennial for its pleasantly calming fragrance and profuse purple blooms. — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026 Zook Cabins The interior measures 400 sq ft (37 sq m) and is mostly arranged around one large open room that has a pleasantly rustic decor while adding plenty of modern comforts. — New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026 If this is a social commitment, someone dropping out could bring a new individual into the mix, leaving you pleasantly surprised with the outcome. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 Cynthia Rowe and her two daughters traveled from Warrensburg for the concert and were pleasantly surprised to find the massive festival. — Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026 Studio Romell drives home the point with the pleasantly imperfect Inri table lamp, handcrafted in France with a cast-bronze base of three asymmetrical legs. — Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 15 Aug. 2026 McGregor, however, was pleasantly surprised, many years later, to find out that there actually is a passionate fanbase out there for his three Star Wars movies. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026 Candice Davis had been pleasantly surprised by the ease of her first pregnancy. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantly
  1. nicely
  2. deliciously
  3. delightfully
  4. great
  5. enjoyably
  6. well
  7. finely
  8. agreeably
Adverb
  • That feels very much in tune with the anxious characters Eisenberg has played over the course of his acting career, but this whole directing thing is working out nicely for him, too.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Push your right foot down, and the Grand Sport lurches forward like a bat out of hell and straight into two esses, which right away show you how nicely dialed-in the steering is.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of nicely
Adverb
  • The depravity of the aristocrats in the periphery comes off as deliciously cartoonish, likely because that’s how Fyodor perceives them.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • This time round, Horvat is on to something even more deliciously odd with a study that mashes together grief, matrimonial disharmony, the alien nature of mathematical minds, and desire’s wild pursuit of obscure objects.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of deliciously
Adverb
  • Of course, there’s always room service which is not just delightfully decadent, but sometimes the necessary call after a long day of fun.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • This is a delightfully witty and stylish comic caper with plenty of swinging ’60s atmosphere to spare.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of delightfully
Adverb
  • This under-$40 ring from Caitlin Minimalist that will look great long after the trend dies down.
    — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond my ultra-chic (and great-smelling) mother’s stamp of approval, the brand’s luxurious perfume portfolio has earned praise from Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, Jennifer Aniston, and Katie Holmes, to name a few.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of great
Adverb
  • The extremely soapy, enjoyably satirical true-life drama chronicles love, rampant betrayal and a brazen murder plot through three decades of the iconic Gucci fashion house.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The show nonetheless takes an unexpected direction that makes for an enjoyably low-key binge.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of enjoyably
Adverb
  • Carrick knew, though, that his team should have managed the game better after Mbeumo’s goal.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Novo Nordisk is testing whether wastewater from pharmaceutical production can be cleaned well enough to be used again in the manufacturing process, potentially cutting the company’s water consumption by half.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of well
Adverb
  • Thinly slice remaining 2 celery stalks, then finely chop enough dill to yield ¼ cup.
    — Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
  • How to Store Chopped Onions Feel free to quarter, wedge, coarsely chop, mince, or finely chop an onion in advance, then store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
    — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of finely
Adverb
  • Football is in his rearview mirror, and this new life goes down agreeably, like one of the smoothies.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of agreeably

Browse Nearby Words

pleasant
pleasantly
pleasantness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pleasantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantly. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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