SLOWLY Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

slowly

adverb

ˈslō-lē

Definition of slowly

as in cautiously

at a pace that is less than usual, desirable, or expected walked slowly toward the ringing phone

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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 slowly Clemson had possession of the ball for nine minutes longer than Alabama and ran ninety-nine offensive plays, slowly wearing down the Tide’s talented defense. — John Talty, Vanity Fair, 2 Sep. 2026 Inflation is part of the show, as across the valley floor, enormous envelopes lie crumpled in fields before fans slowly give them shape—then the burners start, sending pulses of orange through the fabric. — Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 And then the child began to whimper, slowly waking from her sleep. — Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026 An operator who only ever supervises automation slowly stops being an operator. — IEEE Spectrum, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slowly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slowly

Adverb

Rather than spurring action because more teams are in the race, clubs have acted more cautiously.

— Zack Meisel, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
The fox cautiously walked a few feet past us on its journey for bugs and other snacks.

— Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of cautiously

Adverb

Winterberry Holly Winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is a slow-growing shrub native to Eastern North America with red berries that mature in the fall, providing winter interest and food for birds and small mammals.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 6 Sep. 2026
Pilot programs involving perennial grains are in the works around the world, testing how to grow them in different regions, climates and soils, but the research is early and slow-moving.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of slow

Adverb

Hayes’ 3-pointer from the midcourt logo to end the first quarter keyed the Valkyries’ 24-9 second-quarter surge and enlivened a Golden State group that had started the game sluggishly.

— Christian Babcock, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
Verstappen qualified second but stalled at the start, falling to last place as his car moved sluggishly.

— Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 7 June 2026

Definition of sluggishly

Adverb

Explosives were carefully used to clear a path before army rescuers continued to meticulously dig by hand to reach any survivors inside.

— Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
His carefully coiffed side parting is as immaculate as his smile, something which distinguishes him from the rest of his party whose members tend to grimace rather than grin.

— Esme Nicholson, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of carefully

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slowish

slowly

slowness

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“Slowly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slowly. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of slowly

adverb

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