as in faintly
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Recent Examples of delicately
The paint is splotchy in places and the photographs are pinned delicately to a dark surface, their edges curling, giving the overall installation a textured materiality.
—
Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The rest of her hair was pulled up in an undone updo, with a handful of delicately curled tendrils falling down her shoulders for extra romantic effect.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 Feb. 2026
The Fugitive Slave Act was part of a larger set of bills known collectively as the Compromise of 1850, which sought to balance, ever so delicately, the political interests of the North and the South on the question of slavery.
—Stephen Mihm, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
The Fugitive Slave Act was part of a larger set of bills known collectively as the Compromise of 1850, which sought to balance, ever so delicately, the political interests of the North and the South on the question of slavery.
—Stephen Mihm, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Like the previous film, Shuko Murase’s direction is deft and very subtle, with character progression handled delicately.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Biden in the film delicately but pointedly describes his disappointment with the current nature of the discourse.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
And while the material is impressive enough on its own, the green embroidery that’s delicately piped around the edge of the top sheet and pillowcases give it a timeless look fit for a magazine spread.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
This would be a way to keep someone in the building while taking away their power more delicately.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The rest of her hair was pulled up in an undone updo, with a handful of delicately curled tendrils falling down her shoulders for extra romantic effect.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 9 Feb. 2026
The Fugitive Slave Act was part of a larger set of bills known collectively as the Compromise of 1850, which sought to balance, ever so delicately, the political interests of the North and the South on the question of slavery.
—Stephen Mihm, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
The Fugitive Slave Act was part of a larger set of bills known collectively as the Compromise of 1850, which sought to balance, ever so delicately, the political interests of the North and the South on the question of slavery.
—Stephen Mihm, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Like the previous film, Shuko Murase’s direction is deft and very subtle, with character progression handled delicately.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Biden in the film delicately but pointedly describes his disappointment with the current nature of the discourse.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
And while the material is impressive enough on its own, the green embroidery that’s delicately piped around the edge of the top sheet and pillowcases give it a timeless look fit for a magazine spread.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
This would be a way to keep someone in the building while taking away their power more delicately.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delicately
Adverb
-
Korinek is youthful and slender, with delicate wire-frame glasses and a faintly red beard.—
Josh Tyrangiel,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Its faintly sweet starchiness is perfect for stirring into pastas and soups.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
His 2025 season started somewhat shakily, then included a quadriceps injury that cost him two games and opened the door for Jake Moody to temporarily handle the kicking duties.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
On a rainy Saturday last summer, I can be found paddling out, popping up, and generally hanging ten—goofily, shakily, semi-triumphantly—in a skylit East Village walk-up.—
Sally Singer,
Vogue,
10 Oct. 2025
Adverb
-
Backfill the soil around the root balls and press down gently on the soil to firm it.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Afterward, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush to remove grooves.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
11 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
In 1946, Congress responded weakly to mounting overseas food needs.—
Peter Simons,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2026
-
In 1946, Congress responded weakly to mounting overseas food needs.—
Peter Simons,
Fortune,
14 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
One man aboard the boat knew how to navigate the mangroves and sandbars of the keys, and with the late summer sun beating down on the rafters, the boat pushed out feebly into the open ocean.—
Miriam Pensack,
The Dial,
30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
This is of course the whole point of conservatism, to go slowly, tread softly, because everything has unintended consequences.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The café is spacious and softly buzzing, with quiet conversations carrying over from distant tables.—
Pau Mosquera,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Delicately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delicately. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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