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 Any prices or levels shown are either historical or purely indicative. Katie Stockton, CNBC, 14 July 2025 However, Ultraman is simple-minded and purely exists to follow Luthor's directions, down to the exact attack moves his handler shouts into his earpiece during fights. EW.com, 14 July 2025 Butch Dill/Getty Images While the report is purely speculative at this point, Saban unretiring to get back into coaching wouldn't be a complete shock. Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025 Often, these employees view their job performance purely through the lens of their technical skills, and historically, so have their employers. Kempton Presley, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for purely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely
Adverb
  • Employers are no longer hiring based solely on credentials.
    Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • Individuals suffering solely from mental illness will be excluded from eligibility.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025
Adverb
  • Buxton gets a breather after an eventful week Byron Buxton was out of the lineup Sunday, but only because Baldelli wanted to give him a breather.
    Dan Hayes, New York Times, 21 July 2025
  • The offer, which can be redeemed in-store or online, is only available through Sunday, July 20.
    Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 21 July 2025
Adverb
  • Let Suki Waterhouse's latest revelation serve as a warning to the fashionistas of the world — make sure your pants fit properly!
    Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 15 July 2025
  • Storing them properly helps preserve their flavor, keeps them juicy, and reduces waste.
    Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 July 2025
Adverb
  • As a junior, Bremner was used exclusively as a starter while once again upping his strikeout total.
    Bodie De Silva, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • Beyond The Villa Love Island: Beyond the Villa is exclusively streaming on Peacock.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Adverb
  • As a result, their bonus pool is just $6.57 million, third lowest among MLB teams.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • The Albert family, former owners of the property where Read and two other women found O'Keefe dead under a sheet of snow, just celebrated a wedding.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
Adverb
  • Leaving was simply a necessity for boys with big dreams.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
  • But with the exception of Morel, none of their additions projected to help the following season. Unable to address most of their immediate needs, the Rays simply expanded their talent base.
    Levi Weaver, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Adverb
  • The Harvard Business Review reinforces this: Emotionally connected customers are more than twice as valuable as merely satisfied ones.
    Manu Mathew, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • These are important questions, but are ultimately merely nibbling around the edges of the main problem, which is that Rikers Island has for decades now been a cesspool of unconstitutional conduct and rampant violence that has shocked even longtime criminal justice observers like Martin.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

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