WIDELY Synonyms: 19 Similar and Opposite Words

widely

adverb

Definition of widely

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.

Related Words

Relevance

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 widely Technological advances have made many necessities dramatically cheaper and more widely available. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, rare booksellers continue to flag strange orders, recognizing that most sincere buyers tend to seek out single books, not order large batches of widely varying selections. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026 The epic eight-part Italian drama was widely acclaimed and streamed in the fall on Mubi, a relatively novice player in the episodic game. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 While the specific ownership breakdown of the team is not public and not widely known, Walter is the control owner and has the largest stake, Sportico understands. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for widely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for widely

Adverb

This assessment wasn’t universally shared among conservatives.

— Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
From hot pink aura nails to ballet blush manicures, there’s something about a radiant coat of pink polish that makes a fresh set universally flattering.

— Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of universally

Adverb

The vast majority of illnesses this year are from the cyclosporiasis outbreak involving iceberg lettuce used at restaurants like Taco Bell and distributed more broadly by Taylor Farms.

— Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
As some bankers leave for jobs at AI labs, finance is also turning into a battleground for enterprise AI business more broadly.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of broadly

Adverb

That’s because Davis has spoken extensively about his role in the case, including in interviews with Los Angeles police and the media, in a 2019 tell-all book and during several bragging interviews done to promote the publication.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
While these crystals have been observed extensively, little was known about their internal behavior, their movements, interactions or responses to external disturbances.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of extensively

Browse Nearby Words

wide-eyed

widely

widemouthed

See all Nearby Words

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Style

“Widely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/widely. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of widely

adverb

Example Sentences

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