as in universally
across a large area, group, or range
Originally invented in the United States, baseball is now a widely played sport around the world.
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Recent Examples of widely
The Republican governor’s announcement was widely shared and celebrated.
—
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
When autoworkers in Michigan formed picket lines outside of manufacturing plants in 2023, for example, it was widely recognized nationally as a strike.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Aledo is widely known as one of Texas high school football’s most successful programs.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2025
Newsom is widely reviled here for cutting back on oil drilling and not prioritizing new reservoirs to store water for thirsty farms.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widely
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
When autoworkers in Michigan formed picket lines outside of manufacturing plants in 2023, for example, it was widely recognized nationally as a strike.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Aledo is widely known as one of Texas high school football’s most successful programs.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Oct. 2025
Newsom is widely reviled here for cutting back on oil drilling and not prioritizing new reservoirs to store water for thirsty farms.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for widely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for widely
Adverb
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Xi called for cooperation to promote universally beneficial and inclusive development, to advance the digital and green transformation of trade, to keep industrial and supply chains stable and smooth and to build an open economic environment in the region.—
Robert Birsel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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Yet, neither Ancelotti nor Zidane were universally popular in the dressing room.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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But if results do start to slide, not even Perez being broadly in favour of his handling of the squad will stop Alonso coming under pressure.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
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This genuine desire to speak broadly to the human condition can veer, at times, toward New Age self-help.—
Amy Weiss-Meyer,
The Atlantic,
31 Oct. 2025
Adverb
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In the years since the Pitchfork report, Arcade Fire has toured extensively and released a new studio album, Pink Elephant.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
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Liam has spoken extensively about putting on the black leathers, contacts and the wig and that process of not becoming yourself.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/widely. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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