as in effortlessly
without difficulty
we proceeded smoothly to the next stage of the project
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Recent Examples of smoothly
During the 2024 election, officials received a record number of bomb threats, though Barton said elections went very smoothly, mostly because officials were prepared.
—
Ashley Lopez, NPR, 6 June 2026
That said, everyone could benefit from completing a few simple household maintenance tasks on the weekend in order to ensure things flow more smoothly over the course of the busy work week ahead.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
But things did not go as smoothly at the gate.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Even five minutes of slower breathing, stepping outside for sunlight, stretching or taking a short walk can help your body transition more smoothly into the day.
—Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 4 June 2026
If the World Cup goes smoothly, García de Llano envisions Guadalajara emerging as one of the world’s top tourist destinations, similar to Barcelona’s transformation after the 1992 Summer Olympics.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
But good luck to anyone trying to keep an NYC business running smoothly should the Knicks manage to wrap things up on the night of June 16, as that’s a Tuesday.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 June 2026
Drivers needed a super-thin sole to feel the pedals, a rounded heel to pivot smoothly around sharp European switchbacks, and a tight suede fit.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Election Day went rather smoothly in Orange County, according to the registrar of voters, who said no major issues were reported.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Ashley Lopez, NPR, 6 June 2026
That said, everyone could benefit from completing a few simple household maintenance tasks on the weekend in order to ensure things flow more smoothly over the course of the busy work week ahead.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 5 June 2026
But things did not go as smoothly at the gate.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026
Even five minutes of slower breathing, stepping outside for sunlight, stretching or taking a short walk can help your body transition more smoothly into the day.
—Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj, CNBC, 4 June 2026
If the World Cup goes smoothly, García de Llano envisions Guadalajara emerging as one of the world’s top tourist destinations, similar to Barcelona’s transformation after the 1992 Summer Olympics.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 June 2026
But good luck to anyone trying to keep an NYC business running smoothly should the Knicks manage to wrap things up on the night of June 16, as that’s a Tuesday.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 June 2026
Drivers needed a super-thin sole to feel the pedals, a rounded heel to pivot smoothly around sharp European switchbacks, and a tight suede fit.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026
Election Day went rather smoothly in Orange County, according to the registrar of voters, who said no major issues were reported.
—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smoothly
Adverb
-
Pivoting effortlessly from family man to ruthless felon, Cranston once again puts his acting range on full display, with a nuanced performance that is underscored by the knowledge that the slightest misstep could cost him — and his family — their lives.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 June 2026
-
Lightweight, breathable coverups layer effortlessly for beach-to-boardwalk versatility.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Adverb
-
Insider tip Costa Rica's South Pacific Coast is easily accessible via Sansa Airlines, Costa Rica's domestic carrier.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
-
Marlowe is not easily replaceable, especially if the Nuggets follow the trend of going younger and less experienced.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
Adverb
-
The sale features impressive savings on patio furniture, area rugs, Adirondack chairs, and clever storage solutions that make handling household clutter easy.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
-
Branch Water builds on that idea of clean, minimal ingredients while borrowing the easy-drinking spirit and citrus notes of Ranch Water.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Adverb
-
But since its inception, the system has been more restrictive and worked less efficiently than some schools and athletes might have hoped.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
In many situations, repairing a system makes sense when the unit is relatively young, the repair is affordable, the issue is isolated and the system continues to operate efficiently.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Adverb
-
The Glen Canyon Institute and canyon activists for years have argued that Lake Powell should be drained and the Colorado River allowed to again flow freely through Glen Canyon.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
-
The extra water allows laundry to agitate more freely during the wash cycle, which can be helpful with bulky items.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smoothly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smoothly. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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