1
as in quietly
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2
as in lightly
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of softly
Spanberger softly condemned Jones’s violent rhetoric but declined to distance herself from him.
—
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025
Chip heeled tight to my left, his ears laid back, whining softly.
—Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
My hair was softly curled, and my face was expertly sculpted with a breathable base that still allowed my skin to shine through.
—Brianna J. Heath, Essence, 27 Oct. 2025
Horn speaks softly, but says a lot.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
As Rissa emerged from the chapel and began to walk down the aisle during the ceremony, a harpist and choir sang softly in the background, adding to the already emotional atmosphere.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
This image captures the Rubin Observatory beneath a dazzling sweep of the southern Milky Way galaxy, with the Large Magellanic Cloud glowing softly to the left.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The bar—made of white onyx—glows softly from within, inviting you to pull up a stool.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Each layer and appliqué was placed to follow the body softly; never heavy, always refined.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025
Chip heeled tight to my left, his ears laid back, whining softly.
—Joel M. Vance, Outdoor Life, 29 Oct. 2025
My hair was softly curled, and my face was expertly sculpted with a breathable base that still allowed my skin to shine through.
—Brianna J. Heath, Essence, 27 Oct. 2025
Horn speaks softly, but says a lot.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 27 Oct. 2025
As Rissa emerged from the chapel and began to walk down the aisle during the ceremony, a harpist and choir sang softly in the background, adding to the already emotional atmosphere.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
This image captures the Rubin Observatory beneath a dazzling sweep of the southern Milky Way galaxy, with the Large Magellanic Cloud glowing softly to the left.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 24 Oct. 2025
The bar—made of white onyx—glows softly from within, inviting you to pull up a stool.
—Laura Itzkowitz, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Each layer and appliqué was placed to follow the body softly; never heavy, always refined.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softly
Adverb
-
Since its debut, the initiative has been quietly but determinedly building physical bases in Lagos and Kenya, creating tangible spaces where female artists, producers, and engineers can access resources that Tems herself had to fight to find.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Butler, who appeared to be holding back tears, listened quietly as officers explained the purpose of their visit.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Yeah, that’s putting it lightly.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Over the last few years, trade rumors have lightly surrounded Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
Remember to be patient as auroras may arrive in quiet bursts, glowing faintly before becoming vibrant waves of color.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The group gathers in darkness, faintly lit by the glow of electric candles.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Short-foot activation Stand barefoot and gently press your toes into the floor while drawing the ball of your foot slightly toward your heel, creating a subtle arch.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
To remove rust, sprinkle a bit of Bar Keepers Friend or baking soda over the affected area, add a drop of water to create a paste, and gently scrub with a soft sponge.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
6 Nov. 2025
Adverb
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One man aboard the boat knew how to navigate the mangroves and sandbars of the keys, and with the late summer sun beating down on the rafters, the boat pushed out feebly into the open ocean.—
Miriam Pensack,
The Dial,
30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
For a network that used to control the cultural Zeitgeist, MTV is now just a pile of Ridiculousness episodes in a trench coat, with RuPaul’s Drag Race tenderly placed on top.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
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With sensitive skin types in mind, the creamy, fragrance-free formula boasts a simple ingredient list, using glycerin and niacinamide to strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier and nonstripping micelles— molecules in micellar water—to tenderly wash away dirt and oil.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softly. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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