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Definitions

merely

[meer-lee] / ˈmɪər li /
ADVERB
slightly
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONGEST


ADVERB
a little
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONGEST


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.

Given the choice, I’d prefer to see a truly terrible movie over one that’s merely bland and mediocre.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

The company accused Wilson of being motivated by personal grievances, adding that he was merely trying to retain relevance at the company.

From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026

Sometimes sheep are merely sheep, and sometimes they’re stand-ins for a willfully credulous populace.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

Reviews published afterward have also described mitochondrial failure as an early and potentially central feature of Alzheimer's biology, not merely a late consequence of brain damage.

From Science Daily • May 16, 2026

But if one had seen it on the forest floor, one would have thought it was merely an oddly shaped stump: the cover made of scaly bark, the thick pages bound with twine.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman




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