at best

ADVERB

partly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

at least partially slightly somewhat

WEAK

at most at worst bit by bit by degrees carelessly halfway in a general way in bits and pieces in part in some measure in some ways inadequately incompletely insufficiently little by little measurably not entirely not fully not strictly speaking not wholly notably noticeably piece by piece piecemeal relatively so far as possible to a certain degree to a certain extent up to a certain point within limits

Antonyms

WEAK

completely totally wholly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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at best

Temperatures will be 23 or 24C at best but eastern Scotland will be cooler.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026

The fact that a different adjuster inspected the same property and found substantially more covered damage suggests the initial inspection was incomplete at best, and reckless at worst.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026

But its prognosis for victory would seem guarded at best.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Composers and songwriters would receive payments irregularly at best; performers and venues had to contend with multiple agencies seeking money.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026

All these numbers are at best rough approximations, but their implications are clear: the epidemics killed about one out of every five people on earth.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

at best

Example Sentences

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