1
as in quietly
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2
as in lightly
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Recent Examples of softly
And yet, Meghan has embraced a subtle style shift across the last year, experimenting softly with more glamorous looks.
—
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
Old hands at the magazine long have whispered that the secret of the Oscar party’s success has been its near-perfect red carpet lighting — meticulously calibrated to softly and forgivingly cover up the flaws of any guest lucky enough to be photographed beneath it.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Dresses with empire silhouettes—that is, a high waist directly under the bust and a softly falling skirt that creates a romantic, almost fairytale-like drape—have become especially popular in the bridal market as a result.
—Madeline Dangmann, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Speaking softly, Jahara Malik, now 18, pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge stemming from the fatal stabbing of Yahkeim Lollar, a beloved football player at Miami Northwestern Senior High.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Her drawings speak softly yet carry emotional depth, revealing a quiet confidence that has become her signature.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Lazy Boys rise, Lazy Boys fall, Somewhere, an Ikea sofa softly sneezes.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Your 12th House of Spirituality calls softly as the Moon opposes auspicious Jupiter, encouraging you to find quiet time even as your 6th House of Work demands practical action.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Then, Reynold’s son allegedly pushed her softly, according to the prosecutor, before Odeh attempted to pull his hair.
—Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2026
Old hands at the magazine long have whispered that the secret of the Oscar party’s success has been its near-perfect red carpet lighting — meticulously calibrated to softly and forgivingly cover up the flaws of any guest lucky enough to be photographed beneath it.
—Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026
Dresses with empire silhouettes—that is, a high waist directly under the bust and a softly falling skirt that creates a romantic, almost fairytale-like drape—have become especially popular in the bridal market as a result.
—Madeline Dangmann, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026
Speaking softly, Jahara Malik, now 18, pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge stemming from the fatal stabbing of Yahkeim Lollar, a beloved football player at Miami Northwestern Senior High.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Her drawings speak softly yet carry emotional depth, revealing a quiet confidence that has become her signature.
—Heide Janssen, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026
Lazy Boys rise, Lazy Boys fall, Somewhere, an Ikea sofa softly sneezes.
—Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
Your 12th House of Spirituality calls softly as the Moon opposes auspicious Jupiter, encouraging you to find quiet time even as your 6th House of Work demands practical action.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2026
Then, Reynold’s son allegedly pushed her softly, according to the prosecutor, before Odeh attempted to pull his hair.
—Hope Moses, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softly
Adverb
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Mueller's team spent nearly two years quietly conducting one of the most consequential, yet divisive, investigations in Justice Department history.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
-
What’s happened to Celeste in Atlanta is quietly happening all across America, Goldstone writes.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
22 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Spoon remaining rice mixture on top and lightly press down to compress.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
-
No loss of life so far, a few serious injuries, but don’t take this storm lightly.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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The syrupy sweetness brought to mind a pancake, while the faintly cultured cheese turned it savory.—
Cesar Hernandez,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
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Bachata played faintly, with plucky notes from the guitar cutting through cows' grunts.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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And nothing compares to waking up beside Alice Lake, where sunrise casts the 9,899-foot El Capitan in pale honey light—an image almost perfectly mirrored in gently lapping water below.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
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Instead of relying purely on hydration, this formula includes salicylic acid, which gently exfoliates and keeps pores clear so that breakouts don’t come back.—
Hana Hong,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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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
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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
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Yet the director, Vanessa Caswill, stages it all with a tenderly forlorn Middle American plausibility.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Mar. 2026
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The making of such a film would look a lot like the funny, tenderly melancholic, and wonderful Candidates of Death.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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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 30 Mar. 2026.
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