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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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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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 For decades, biologists thought that early tetrapods, ancient vertebrates that started conquering the land over 300 million years ago, developed like modern amphibians—beginning their lives as purely aquatic tadpoles and then metamorphosing into terrestrial adults. Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026 On a purely logistical level, the practice of storing wine in a subterranean chamber is useful for maintaining cool, consistent temperatures that are conducive to aging wine. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 23 June 2026 The purely material is a distraction, a red herring. Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026 This is purely a cosmetic change and will have no impact on the value of our investment. Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for purely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely
Adverb
  • The deciding goal started innocently enough on a Marcel Sabitzer corner kick, albeit after the World Cup’s still-odd hydration breaks.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
  • The play started innocently enough with Tab Ramos bouncing a one-hop pass to Paul Caligiuri, who played the ball off his chest 40 yards from goal.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2026
Adverb
  • For years, the industry was dominated solely by Disney, then Pixar and later Dreamworks Animation.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 19 June 2026
  • Because these worldviews frequently arrive at different conclusions, obviously on the polar opposite of each other, Christians don’t see Pride Nights as solely a political debate, but a theological one as well.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Adverb
  • But a federal appeals court reversed that decision, ruling the Voting Rights Act can only be enforced by the federal government and not through lawsuits brought by individual voters or groups.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 21 June 2026
  • In 1908 a significant court ruling determined that only those born to Parsi fathers are recognized by the state as Parsi, laying the groundwork for more than a century of exclusion.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Adverb
  • Adcock manages child safety seat inspection events and training across Northern Indiana, aimed at helping parents ensure their car seats are properly installed and that their children are safe.
    Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026
  • Getty Images for Ascot Racecourse The highly agile Getty shooter Alan Crowhurst has done us a great favor by bringing concrete cloakroom evidence of the many social and administrative challenges that the (famous) Royal Ascot costume edicts require in order to be properly met.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Adverb
  • In short, substrate independence is the notion that mind and consciousness need not be limited exclusively to biological brains.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
  • America's Next Top Model cycle 15 and returning all-star contestant Kayla Ferrel Onder speaks to EW exclusively about her experience on the show.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026
Adverb
  • Like Eastern, the airline promised passengers that if a flight was full, the shuttle would roll out a second plane – even for just one passenger.
    Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • As the four-day event continues today, Wednesday, June 24 through Friday, June 26, there’s no better time to snag the latest deals that just launched on site.
    Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 24 June 2026
Adverb
  • This point can sound almost heretical in modern healthcare discourse, where prevention is frequently framed as both morally superior and financially inevitable.
    Jeffrey Wessler, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
  • The least morally ambiguous of Snow’s latest characters is Mandy Matney, the investigative journalist whose podcast served as the source material for Murdaugh.
    Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 17 June 2026
Adverb
  • To pull it off, the show’s creative team had to build a rock star from the ground up, crafting a visual identity, creating music that could stand on its own outside the series, and transforming Reid into a performer capable of owning a crowd rather than simply acting in front of one.
    Precious Fondren, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • Every fuel truck destroyed, ammunition convoy disrupted or logistics hub struck forces Russian commanders to expend additional time, resources and manpower simply maintaining battlefield operations.
    Hunter LaCroix, Baltimore Sun, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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