1
as in weakly
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2
as in tenderly
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gently
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
After completing a short quiz, PetPlate recommends gently cooked, human-grade meals made with real meat and vegetables.
—Trisha Easto, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
With a knife, swirl tahini sauce gently into salsa.
—Faye Levy, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Rinse the paste with water and a microfiber cloth; gently rub dry.
—Jessica Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Miss Manners would like to remind you gently that a condo is not high school.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Primarily, there are beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) courtesy of lipo hydroxy acid (LHA), a deep-penetrating chemical exfoliant that gently sloughs off old, dead cells to reveal brighter, fresher skin.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead, the administration is notified to gently remove them.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
Afterward, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush to remove grooves.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 11 Feb. 2026
After completing a short quiz, PetPlate recommends gently cooked, human-grade meals made with real meat and vegetables.
—Trisha Easto, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
With a knife, swirl tahini sauce gently into salsa.
—Faye Levy, Oc Register, 11 Feb. 2026
Rinse the paste with water and a microfiber cloth; gently rub dry.
—Jessica Elliott, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
Miss Manners would like to remind you gently that a condo is not high school.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Primarily, there are beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) courtesy of lipo hydroxy acid (LHA), a deep-penetrating chemical exfoliant that gently sloughs off old, dead cells to reveal brighter, fresher skin.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 10 Feb. 2026
Instead, the administration is notified to gently remove them.
—Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gently
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
-
On an idyllic farm in rural Georgia, Black beekeeping parents tenderly share their knowledge of life, love, and nature with their young sons while restoring their homestead.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Incredibly, Joel takes a seat and begins to tenderly tickle the ivories.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
5 Jan. 2026
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
Adverb
-
Perhaps most perceptively captivating is the sweetly cunning way Marczak inserts himself into the film.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
-
And so the players showed up brandishing hope for this summer while sweetly admitting the emotion that still lingers from last fall.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
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
Adverb
-
There is nothing divinely ordained here.—
Carter Dougherty,
Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Last September, Alan Cumming lit up the 2025 Emmy Awards ceremonies in three sharp Tanner Fletcher looks each featuring obscenely oversized bows that perfectly suited his divinely androgynous sense of style.—
Jonathan Borge,
InStyle,
29 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
-
Orbitz should have coordinated with Aer Lingus to resolve your refund request promptly and compassionately.—
Christopher Elliott,
Mercury News,
29 Dec. 2025
-
City leaders believe they could be done more compassionately by offering services and shelter.—
Angela Hart,
CBS News,
18 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gently. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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