Definition of purelynext
1
as in innocently
with purity of thought and deed the devout girl vowed to live her life purely and in the service of God

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in solely
for nothing other than I fish purely for the fun of it—I don't care if I end up with no fish to fry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in only
nothing more than her pleasantries were purely for show and masked her true feelings

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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 purely The focus has shifted from purely competitive racing to exploration, navigation and the sheer joy of sailing. Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 Some tourists would board purely for the novelty of the route. Anna Noryskiewicz, CBS News, 1 June 2026 Any prices or levels shown are either historical or purely indicative. Katie Stockton, CNBC, 1 June 2026 Intriguing House races House races to watch feature campaigns that aren't purely red or blue, McGlennon points out. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for purely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely
Adverb
  • There’s a particularly tragic scene where Natalia, lured on holiday by Elsa, spots a small child innocently giggling at the table across from her at dinner.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
  • For the person who innocently took her rugby kit to the hospital four years ago, representing her country would feel like a just reward for Balogun’s perseverance and strength of will.
    George Ramsay, New York Times, 7 May 2026
Adverb
  • All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, or its parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium.
    Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 29 May 2026
  • Today, rumors circulating on social media in the DRC include false claims that Ebola is not real, that humanitarian workers are descending on the area solely for their own profit and that aid groups are withholding the best care available.
    Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 29 May 2026
Adverb
  • The Eastern League champs with an 11-1 record, the Warhawks’ only loss down the stretch came in the final league game against Christian on May 15.
    Rick Hoff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
  • Andrew was only 4 days old when his dad hit his second home run of the 2004 NLCS.
    Jose de Jesus Ortiz, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
Adverb
  • Supervisors have awarded grants to groups that have run afoul of state rules for charities, and some grants have lacked documentation showing they were properly spent.
    Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
  • One of the most common is blossom end rot, which can also be avoided by properly caring for your plants.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2026
Adverb
  • The Hollywood Reporter exclusively revealed that Reid’s novel Malibu Rising is being developed as a TV series for Hulu, with Taylor adapting and executive producing alongside Circle of Confusion.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
  • The company ceased clinging exclusively to Windows and aggressively pivoted toward cloud computing, artificial intelligence and open platforms.
    Veronica Angela, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Adverb
  • Lunch and dinner are just as healthy, with simple recipes allowing the fresh food to shine.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
  • Our angel was right there on the sidewalk, just past the young men.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Adverb
  • But most things in life are not answered so simply.
    Erika Ettin, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
  • Fontenot simply would not be beaten.
    Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
Adverb
  • But that continued dedication to masking of any kind is not merely the result of unintelligence, or misplaced hypochondria, or even being affiliated with a specific political party.
    Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • Admissions officers can differentiate between a teenager who has merely listed activities on their resume and one who has demonstrated accountability through a job outside of school.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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