Synonyms of purely

purely

adverb

ˈpyu̇r-lē 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• innocently
• properly
• chastely
• morally
• virtuously
• righteously
• modestly
• decently
• decorously
• primly
• priggishly
• prudishly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• wickedly
• sinfully
• evilly
• immorally
• vulgarly
• obscenely
• indecently
• impurely
• lasciviously
• lewdly
• lustfully

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• solely
• only
• exclusively
• just
• simply
• primarily
• alone
• mainly
• mostly
• largely
• basically
• principally
• chiefly
• predominantly
• generally
• substantially
• by and large

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• also
• likewise
• besides
• additionally

3

as in only

nothing more than

her pleasantries were purely for show and masked her true feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• only
• just
• merely
• simply
• but

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of purely

Future deployments Placing the geothermal plant on top of a natural hydrothermal vent was a one-time test for purely research and demonstration purposes, Redd said. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026

In spite—or because—of that emphasis on the purely physical, Capra thrived. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

This music was made purely to represent the art of an incredible producer and an incredible artist and an incredible emcee and another incredible artist together all as a collective. — Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2026

Ironically, those may be the jobs that purely focus on cost cutting are the most vulnerable to automation. — Scott Levenson, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026