as in easily
without difficulty
you're not going to get off lightly if they catch you!
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lightly
As a solo artist, Batmanglij writes in a style that is baroque and sophisticated, and lightly warped in a way that recalls both Paul Simon and Radiohead.
—
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
Toast the bread just lightly just to give it the structure to withstand the juiciest of tomatoes.
—Midwest Living, 15 May 2026
To say the new Michel Jackson movie has been divisive is putting it lightly.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 May 2026
Standout bites include classic Basque pintxos paired with txakoli, the region’s lightly sparkling local wine.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 15 May 2026
Toast the bread just lightly just to give it the structure to withstand the juiciest of tomatoes.
—Midwest Living, 15 May 2026
To say the new Michel Jackson movie has been divisive is putting it lightly.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 15 May 2026
Standout bites include classic Basque pintxos paired with txakoli, the region’s lightly sparkling local wine.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightly
Adverb
-
What could have easily made for an overwrought and even tragic read, however, is presented with a surprisingly light touch.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
Subsequent throws easily carried the flaming spear upwards of 60 feet away.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
14 May 2026
Adverb
-
Both raise questions about how smoothly Tesla’s remote intervention system handles edge cases during real-world testing.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
Outcome Two The company continues operating smoothly.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
The button-down works effortlessly with linen pants or over a swimsuit, while the relaxed shorts pair easily with tanks, tees, or lightweight sweaters for travel days.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
-
Andie MacDowell is effortlessly chic in a light blue sundress and sunglasses during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival on May 13.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Adverb
-
Every company measured sustainability differently, making comparisons impossible and greenwashing easy.—
Suvrat Dhanorkar,
The Conversation,
18 May 2026
-
But fitting back in isn’t that easy.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adverb
-
One person with whom Djena can speak freely is Langston; the two have kept in touch.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Unlike his previous installation of monumental titanium figures in the chapel’s long, narrow layout, this exhibition creates a more balanced environment, allowing visitors to move more freely through the space.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adverb
-
Look for consultants that are positioned to execute efficiently and deliver demonstrable, scalable results.—
Raheel Sheikh,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
The project aims to help naval radars adapt faster during operations while sharing spectrum more efficiently with commercial networks, including 5G systems.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 May 2026
Adverb
-
When a successful law-graduate cousin announces a plan to open a high-end restaurant in town, Azik’s loftiest dreams are reawakened — but one look at him, with his cauliflower ear and his antsy demeanor, is enough to tell you Azik is not someone for whom dreams readily come true.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
Because soil can absorb only so much water at once, what is not soaked up collects on the surface where it's more readily evaporated.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightly. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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