merely

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.

Clarence Barron, this magazine’s founder, called investing “the application of money to practical ends,” as opposed to gambling, where “the gains of the successful merely offset the losses of the unsuccessful.”

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Defensive wars don’t merely protect states, they also deform them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

"It's much more than merely delaying or preventing symptoms."

From Science Daily • Apr. 5, 2026

We spoke merely hours before the debut of “Freestyle: A Love Story,” a stage production that follows two lovers who meet at a freestyle show — then reconnect at a concert 20 years later.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

He was merely buying time to get everything set up.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin