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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 According to a video posted by the group, member Donnie Wahlberg, 57, was singing as fans began to freak out at the sight of Osmonds legend Donny Osmond slowly walking up to the stage and putting his arm around Wahlberg. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026 But in the small group of study participants who were using tirzepatide, biological clocks advanced more slowly. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Hurricane Simon continued to move slowly up the coast of west-central Mexico on Tuesday on a path expected to continue for another day or so. — CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 Adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer, which tends to grow more slowly than other kinds of lung cancer. — Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slowly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slowly

Adverb

But don’t count on the administration to continue so cautiously after the midterms.

— Editorial Board, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2026
Still, Andersen is only cautiously optimistic about the future.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of cautiously

Adverb

The restriction disrupted operations, including making the slower-flying attack drones easier targets for Russian defenses.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
Space Afrika bring in slow-moving and often gorgeous layers of double bass, violin, harp, saxophone, and piano to exhume the revelry, grief, and chaos of their inner worlds.

— Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of slow

Adverb

Current leaks through transistors that should be switched off, and electrons move more sluggishly through channels only a few atoms thick.

— Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
The fish looks straight at me, flopping sluggishly from side to side.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of sluggishly

Adverb

The appointment time may be longer than for other gel manicures—and in many cases more expensive—but that laser focus on cleaning up the cuticles, prepping the nails, and carefully applying the polish is what helps it to last.

— Lucy Abbersteen, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026
Have any of these changes been carefully tested, following usual protocols for reviewing any changes to the census?

— Nancy Krieger, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of carefully

Browse Nearby Words

slowish

slowly

slowness

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Slowly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slowly. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of slowly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

outlandish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes