1
as in innocently
with purity of thought and deed the devout girl vowed to live her life purely and in the service of God

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in solely
for nothing other than I fish purely for the fun of it—I don't care if I end up with no fish to fry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in only
nothing more than her pleasantries were purely for show and masked her true feelings

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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 purely At the time of his signing last October, the Bulls claimed the move was purely to facilitate Primo’s rehabilitation from an injury with no plans to roster him with the first team. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 3 July 2025 There was the practical, the purely aesthetic, the absurdist combination of them all. Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2025 For one, the plastic insect figurines are purely visual cues. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 2 July 2025 The report argues that every dollar invested in water management, climate-resilient farming, and forest and wetland conservation could have a $10 return purely by lessening the impact of future droughts. Semafor Events, semafor.com, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for purely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely
Adverb
  • Now, the public defender solely refers people to each court, and must argue a defendant deserves a referral before a judge.
    Ishani Desai July 7, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025
  • Another bill sponsored by Morgan, which passed through the House but didn’t come to a vote in the Senate, would prevent insurers doing business in Illinois from denying, reducing or terminating coverage solely because of the use of an artificial intelligence system.
    Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
Adverb
  • Stephenson was out only 13 months from Tommy John surgery before returning to the mound for two games in late May.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 8 July 2025
  • Dining at Twenty-Eight Atlantic As the Cape’s only Five-Star restaurant, Twenty-Eight Atlantic delivers stellar meals and service every time.
    Kim Foley MacKinnon, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025
Adverb
  • Many folks know of the color-changing capabilities of hydrangeas, but keep reading for a few tips on how to properly care for them beyond adjusting soil pH. Hydrangeas prefer moist, well-draining soil and a sheltered spot with partial shade.
    Dr. Nick Goltz, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2025
  • In other news, the sun once again rose this morning and Earth continues to rotate properly on its axis.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025
Adverb
  • As a junior, Bremner was used exclusively as a starter while once again upping his strikeout total.
    Bodie De Silva, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • Smith talks exclusively with PEOPLE about how the community rallied together to help make her grandson's birthday special.
    Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 13 July 2025
Adverb
  • As a result, their bonus pool is just $6.57 million, third lowest among MLB teams.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • Mason is a stand-up comic Pryor's youngest son is a stand-up comic, just like his dad.
    Julie Tremaine, People.com, 13 July 2025
Adverb
  • Playa Puerto Viejo Best for: expert surfers—or those who simply want to catch an epic sunset This Caribbean beach is the site of arguably Costa Rica’s best surf break, Salsa Brava, a notoriously challenging reef-break that attracts surfers from around the globe.
    AFAR Media, AFAR Media, 11 July 2025
  • But with the exception of Morel, none of their additions projected to help the following season. Unable to address most of their immediate needs, the Rays simply expanded their talent base.
    Levi Weaver, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Adverb
  • The Harvard Business Review reinforces this: Emotionally connected customers are more than twice as valuable as merely satisfied ones.
    Manu Mathew, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • These are important questions, but are ultimately merely nibbling around the edges of the main problem, which is that Rikers Island has for decades now been a cesspool of unconstitutional conduct and rampant violence that has shocked even longtime criminal justice observers like Martin.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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