as in quietly
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 faintly
The cast’s sole survivor is Jessica Hecht, who pours miraculous warmth and complexity into her faintly insulting role as Colleen, the head teller, a morally upright spinster goosed by her flirtation with Sonny and the spotlight.
—
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Thickened with a little potato and flavored with leeks, shallot, white wine, and the faintly anise-y herb tarragon, this sleeper hit of a soup is subtle, springy, and unexpectedly special.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 1 Apr. 2026
The effect grew dream-like, almost David Lynchian, like an AM radio playing faintly at two in the morning, tuning in nothing but forgotten early rock ‘n’ roll singles and rockabilly and a little country.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
The syrupy sweetness brought to mind a pancake, while the faintly cultured cheese turned it savory.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Bachata played faintly, with plucky notes from the guitar cutting through cows' grunts.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Moreover, the black cloud that appears in the image is clearly in the foreground of all of them, blocking all of the background light in the center, but only a portion of the light at the outskirts, allowing some of the light, albeit faintly, to stream through.
—Big Think, 26 Mar. 2026
Somewhere, Morgan Wallen plays faintly from a Bluetooth speaker.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
Instead, keep an eye out for discoloration (usually faintly gray or yellow), clumping, or mold, and be aware of any odor that doesn’t smell like flour should.
—Hannah Lee Leidy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026
Thickened with a little potato and flavored with leeks, shallot, white wine, and the faintly anise-y herb tarragon, this sleeper hit of a soup is subtle, springy, and unexpectedly special.
—Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 1 Apr. 2026
The effect grew dream-like, almost David Lynchian, like an AM radio playing faintly at two in the morning, tuning in nothing but forgotten early rock ‘n’ roll singles and rockabilly and a little country.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
The syrupy sweetness brought to mind a pancake, while the faintly cultured cheese turned it savory.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Bachata played faintly, with plucky notes from the guitar cutting through cows' grunts.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026
Moreover, the black cloud that appears in the image is clearly in the foreground of all of them, blocking all of the background light in the center, but only a portion of the light at the outskirts, allowing some of the light, albeit faintly, to stream through.
—Big Think, 26 Mar. 2026
Somewhere, Morgan Wallen plays faintly from a Bluetooth speaker.
—Calin Van Paris, Outside, 19 Mar. 2026
Instead, keep an eye out for discoloration (usually faintly gray or yellow), clumping, or mold, and be aware of any odor that doesn’t smell like flour should.
—Hannah Lee Leidy, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faintly
Adverb
-
The wife quietly told her husband to hide his kippah under his hat.—
Arielle Kaden,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
In many Black families, caregiving happens quietly.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Heathcliff’s racial ambiguity — so central to the novel’s violence and otherness — is feebly erased.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
Instead, the Lakers superstar pulled up straight over the top of Bryant’s outstretched arm, dropping a fadeaway jumper softly through the net.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Her signature copper red hair, styled by Halley Brisker, was worn softly tousled down her back.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
1 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Aviation news outlet Aeroin posted footage on X of the moment the plane appeared to be flying low before crashing into the restaurant.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In the video, one airplane can be seen flying low over the ground while two helicopters follow closely behind – a formation that is consistent with an air-to-air refueling operation.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
On a brilliant midsummer morning, my wife and I stepped into a black Zodiac raft and drifted noiselessly among icebergs five stories high, their emerald and aquamarine walls gleaming above sapphire waters.—
Pico Iyer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Faintly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faintly. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
