Synonyms of simply

simply

adverb

ˈsim-plē 

1

as in only

for nothing other than

the scholarships are awarded simply on the basis of merit

uninterested in food, she eats simply to keep alive

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• also
• likewise
• additionally
• besides

2

as in just

nothing more than

it's simply smart to shop around before buying an item

Synonyms & Similar Words

• just
• only
• merely
• purely
• but

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of simply

Instead of doing the hard work of seeking out difficult budget cuts, the board took the easy route and simply voted to increase its levy to the maximum allowed. —Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026

In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 7 Jan. 2026

The drug-trafficking-as-armed-attack line simply doesn’t work—not as a justification for bombing fishing boats in international waters in the Caribbean, and not for invading a foreign country and kidnapping its president. —Elie Mystal, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026

As a college student in Connecticut, I am told that working through college is simply part of the experience. —Liam McCusker, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026