PURELY Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

purely

adverb

ˈpyu̇r-lē

Definition of purely

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in only

nothing more than her pleasantries were purely for show and masked her true feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 This development is often overlooked because many Western observers continue to see China’s space program as a purely state-run enterprise. — Rainer Zitelmann, Fortune, 2 July 2026 This is purely players who never won football’s biggest prize. — Michael Cox, New York Times, 1 July 2026 For the most part, the entries have been purely exhilarating stuff. — Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026 Dutch cyber strategy has moved beyond a purely reactive model and now includes more proactive efforts to detect, disrupt, and counter hostile cyber activity. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for purely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely

Adverb

Their amalgamation with the other color produces a degradation to which no lover of his country, no lover of excellence in the human character can innocently consent.

— Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026
It was innocently posted by motorsports reporter Cole Cusumano, who was there covering the race.

— Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026

Definition of innocently

Adverb

State officials updated guidance for traffic stops involving legally armed drivers and Ramsey County law enforcement agencies shifted away from stopping drivers solely for equipment violations, such as broken taillights.

— Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Boeing’s Starliner costs and delays remain the target of the latest audit from NASA’s Office of the Inspector General, but remains a cheaper option for the agency than relying solely on SpaceX for its commercial crew needs.

— Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 July 2026

Definition of solely

Adverb

Potentially, this is why the digital artefacts in the time capsule are only in the Notes app; there’s no need to ask Apple for permission to access the iPhone’s core functionality to open them.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
But Vakulenko of Carnegie believes supply problems in Moscow are real, thanks not only to the June attacks but multiple strikes on refineries in the surrounding regions that supply the capital.

— Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026

Definition of only

Adverb

Research shows that almost two-thirds (64%) of patients using sharps at home have never been taught how to dispose of them properly.

— Irina Butler, Boston Herald, 10 July 2026
The Smithville native suffered a fracture in May that, if not handled properly, could have changed his life forever.

— Latif Love July 9, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Definition of properly

Adverb

After surviving a career-ending stroke, the former officer founded The Wounded Blue, the nation's only nonprofit dedicated exclusively to injured and disabled law enforcement officers.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
The Age of Attraction co-hosts welcomed twin daughters, Iris Parker and Dove Tomlin, late in the evening on Tuesday, June 30, the couple exclusively shares with PEOPLE.

— Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026

Definition of exclusively

Adverb

Getting and renewing your passport might get just a little bit easier, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

— Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 9 July 2026
Matthew and Elena Kittle filed the lawsuit July 2 against The Bay Club, an upscale club with multiple locations, including one in El Segundo, just south of Los Angeles.

— Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 9 July 2026

Definition of just

Adverb

Goddard says simply closing the blinds or drapes during the day to keep the sun out can lower the temperature of upper floors.

— Kamron Sanders, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
To release it, simply pull it apart, combining the convenience of magnetic attachment with the confidence of a physical locking mechanism.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 July 2026

Definition of simply

Browse Nearby Words

purees

purely

pureness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of purely

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on purely

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

effulgence

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes