necessarily

[nes-uh-sair-uh-lee, -ser-] / ˌnɛs əˈsɛər ə li, -ˈsɛr- /

ADVERB

inevitably, certainly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

automatically naturally no doubt undoubtedly unquestionably

WEAK

accordingly as a matter of course axiomatically beyond one's control by definition by its own nature cardinally come what may compulsorily consequently exigently from within fundamentally incontrovertibly indubitably ineluctably inescapably inexorably irresistibly of course of necessity perforce positively pressingly significantly unpreventably vitally willy-nilly without fail

Antonyms

STRONGEST

doubtfully questionably

WEAK

unnecessarily

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.

Tom, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Lolita "doesn't necessarily belong to a specific culture".

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

This is why Meade forecasts that what’s happened in Hormuz won’t necessarily be confined to Hormuz and its effects will ripple out across the high seas.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

But he didn't necessarily see the full documented verdict at the time.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

In the race for leadership of the city, even Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman say things have got to change, which isn’t necessarily the best commentary on their stewardship.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

An armistice would end the fighting but not necessarily the war.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Vocabulary lists containing necessarily

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