1
as in quietly
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in lightly
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 softly
This design plays with subtle borders and softly glowing centers.
—
Jennifer Hussein, InStyle, 17 Jan. 2026
My daughter was born in early January, eyes open, crying softly, placed immediately on her mom’s chest.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Others knelt in prayer, crying softly.
—Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Only one called out softly to Vaughn when the proceeding was done.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Reclaimed brick walls are softly lit, as are the tables, to theatrical effect.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Behind them, the mini fridges of Red Bull hum softly, and a row of beer taps, dormant for now.
—Tara Palmeri, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
With this version, the finish lets the light glow softly from within.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
To get the most out of your jumps, jump 50 times in place at a rapid, consistent speed, making sure to drive through the balls of your feet and land softly on the balls of your feet.
—Danielle Zickl, Outside, 11 Jan. 2026
Jennifer Hussein, InStyle, 17 Jan. 2026
My daughter was born in early January, eyes open, crying softly, placed immediately on her mom’s chest.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Others knelt in prayer, crying softly.
—Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Only one called out softly to Vaughn when the proceeding was done.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Reclaimed brick walls are softly lit, as are the tables, to theatrical effect.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Behind them, the mini fridges of Red Bull hum softly, and a row of beer taps, dormant for now.
—Tara Palmeri, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
With this version, the finish lets the light glow softly from within.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
To get the most out of your jumps, jump 50 times in place at a rapid, consistent speed, making sure to drive through the balls of your feet and land softly on the balls of your feet.
—Danielle Zickl, Outside, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softly
Adverb
-
Amazon quietly discounted dozens of top picks from Stewart’s collection, including Dutch ovens, knife sets, oven mitts, and more, with prices starting at just $8 and discounts going for up to 60 percent off.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The prose looks polished, charts look clean, and a single percentage point buried in the model quietly pushes the decision in a different direction.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Cook until just tender and lightly browned, 5 minutes.—
Holly Riordan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and ground pepper.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The outline of the jaw jitters faintly—two layers are ever so slightly misaligned.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The bonito smelled barely of the ocean, clean and faintly salty.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Smith suggests gently opening the door with a brief, compassionate check-in.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Still a work in progress, but also a person not willing to go gently into the dying light.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
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
-
Incredibly, Joel takes a seat and begins to tenderly tickle the ivories.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Stay in a Historic Inn A short walk up the road is The 1910 Inn, an aqua- and eggplant-hued historic Queen Anne home that fourth-generation local Annie Samarkos has tenderly restored into a bed-and-breakfast and event venue.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softly. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
