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

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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 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 Mainstream category lines were the first to show that quick getaways could be relaxed, far off or pleasantly simple depending on the itinerary. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 15 July 2026 Some who tried the beverage were pleasantly surprised by its taste. — Greta Cross, USA Today, 15 July 2026 But we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the number of studios, mini-majors and independent producers that continue to reach out [and] a lot of repeat clients of course, that continue to do their thing. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pleasantly

Adverb

Patrick Mahomes’ goal to be ready for Week 1 is trending quite nicely, as the three-time Super Bowl champion was cleared to participate in training camp without any limitations.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026
Veal and beef meatballs pair nicely with a smoky pomodoro sauce and mini rigatoni.

— Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Definition of nicely

Adverb

The director got delightfully weird and downright hilarious in his first Marvel outing—but where was that magic the second time around?

— EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
Their noses and the inside of their ears and their long tongue muscles were delightfully pink, the color of a crayon.

— Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of delightfully

Adverb

Otherwise, little of note links the great-fielding, average-hitting Bader to the formerly average-fielding, exceptional-hitting Kent.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Because the phone had no active primary line, calls had to be placed through WhatsApp, but texting worked great and the cellular data actually felt faster than my standard home carrier.

— Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 28 July 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

The yellow metal has endured a tough six months, sitting well below its all-time high achieved earlier this year after a blistering rally that extended through and beyond 2025.

— Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
Skall Studio is a mainstay on the Copenhagen Fashion Week schedule, best known for its billowing cotton prairie dresses, chic linen suits, and cozy woolen sweaters.

— Bella Webb, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of well

Adverb

The researchers can finely adjust the final temperature by balancing the two effects.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026
Parmesan, finely grated (about ½ cup), tossing constantly until melted into sauce and adding more pasta cooking liquid a couple of tablespoonfuls at a time to loosen sauce if needed.

— Claire Saffitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 July 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

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“Pleasantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pleasantly. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of pleasantly

adverb

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