1
as in quietly
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2
as in lightly
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Recent Examples of softly
The Spa is softly lit, cypress lined, curtain draped—truly a destination spa with thoughtful touches like aromatic neck pillows and custom tea blends.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
The skirt was a floor-length, softly flowing pale blush pink in a sheer, lightweight fabric.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
At the same time, faint light reflected from Earth softly illuminates the Moon, revealing mountains and craters in a dim twilight.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Even with its unnecessary detours, Singing reaches this wild reverie in the end—a voice reclaimed to report, softly, from the fathomless depths of the human experience.
—Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
Sylvia, my copilot, snores softly.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Start with tall bluebonnet stems on the left, fill the middle with medium-height ornamental onions, and finish the arrangement with softly drooping sweet peas on the right.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Wilson was softly spoken under cross-examination by Sue Chrysanthou, MacInnes’ barrister, during the hearing on Tuesday.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
Depending on the evening, dinner is served outside under the open sky or inside a softly glowing hoop house.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2026
The skirt was a floor-length, softly flowing pale blush pink in a sheer, lightweight fabric.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 4 May 2026
At the same time, faint light reflected from Earth softly illuminates the Moon, revealing mountains and craters in a dim twilight.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2026
Even with its unnecessary detours, Singing reaches this wild reverie in the end—a voice reclaimed to report, softly, from the fathomless depths of the human experience.
—Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 Apr. 2026
Sylvia, my copilot, snores softly.
—Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Start with tall bluebonnet stems on the left, fill the middle with medium-height ornamental onions, and finish the arrangement with softly drooping sweet peas on the right.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Apr. 2026
Wilson was softly spoken under cross-examination by Sue Chrysanthou, MacInnes’ barrister, during the hearing on Tuesday.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
Depending on the evening, dinner is served outside under the open sky or inside a softly glowing hoop house.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softly
Adverb
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Fearing that Washington could one day choke off other critical resources, Chairman Xi quietly built one of the world’s largest commodity buffers.—
Steve H. Hanke,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
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Miller is also the rare veteran who shows up, fights anyone, and never causes problems behind the scenes — the kind of pro the company quietly values more than most casual fans realize.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Adverb
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The termination of those rights is a profound decision, one the courts don’t take lightly.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Then, lightly spray one slat at a time, working on that slat only.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Adverb
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Above the striping comes mesh in the same color, beneath which pink eye stay loops can be faintly made out before coming to the surface.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
-
The air smelled faintly of lunch and feet.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Adverb
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But when gently poached in miso broth, the end result is tender and moist.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 May 2026
-
Some films will move us gently.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
13 May 2026
Adverb
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Infantino, as Henry Bushnell writes, talked rather feebly about working together and, randomly, said an upcoming under-15 tournament for all member associations was something to encourage co-operation.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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Heathcliff’s racial ambiguity — so central to the novel’s violence and otherness — is feebly erased.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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Theo-tene-matsu pine trees planted centuries ago still remain, many of which have been cared for tenderly by the same family of gardeners for generations.—
Lale Arikoglu,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
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The new series Margo’s Got Money Troubles (streaming on Apple TV) tenderly illustrates the relentless, creative work of making a living online, Sophie Gilbert writes.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Small branches can be clipped quickly and almost noiselessly and fashioned into an effective blind in only a few minutes.—
Bruce Brady,
Outdoor Life,
8 Apr. 2026
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On a brilliant midsummer morning, my wife and I stepped into a black Zodiac raft and drifted noiselessly among icebergs five stories high, their emerald and aquamarine walls gleaming above sapphire waters.—
Pico Iyer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Softly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softly. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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