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
The burgers are pressed, seared and served on buns that are lightly buttered.
—
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 June 2025
Sprinkle the remaining panko on top and season lightly with a little more salt.
5: Bake the meatloaf until the panko on top is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees, 65 to 75 minutes.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
Twenty years ago a little and lightly regarded team stunned hockey by skating all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, and only three times since has that same franchise reached the playoffs again — not once getting past the first round.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
Deliver at All Costs features spectacularly destructible environments, a pleasant soundtrack of easy jazz and surfer music, and a lightly entertaining story about persevering in a tough working environment.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 June 2025
Sprinkle the remaining panko on top and season lightly with a little more salt.
5: Bake the meatloaf until the panko on top is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees, 65 to 75 minutes.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
Twenty years ago a little and lightly regarded team stunned hockey by skating all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, and only three times since has that same franchise reached the playoffs again — not once getting past the first round.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
Deliver at All Costs features spectacularly destructible environments, a pleasant soundtrack of easy jazz and surfer music, and a lightly entertaining story about persevering in a tough working environment.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightly
Adverb
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Soto easily scored from second and Alonso’s headfirst slide barely got him in before Hunter Goodman’s tag at the plate.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
7 June 2025
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The 21-year-old’s creations are easily identifiable with a delightfully strange face that followers have come to adore.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Adverb
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By comparison, Scheffler and playing partners Viktor Hovland and Collin Morikawa might have gotten off easy.—
Will Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2025
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But the Oilers, who are essentially fighting for their life, weren’t going to go down easy.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Adverb
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The researchers are encouraging the adoption of their methods – perhaps even beyond treating Alzheimer's – by freely sharing their results.—
Michael Franco,
New Atlas,
12 June 2025
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Stone had to tear that idea apart to even begin to express himself freely but never quite shook anyone’s pining for his art to be more or less in line with what the industry thought Black music sounded like: Motown, jazz, and gospel rolled up in a ball.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
Adverb
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This will be a win for taxpayers as these economies help the state government address its structural deficit and more efficiently allocate scarce income and assets.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
6 June 2025
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Fat Distribution Changes With aging, adipose (fat) tissue loses its ability to efficiently store and release energy.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
6 June 2025
Adverb
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The trailers, lawmakers said, are readily available online.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2025
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As such, lawns will require more frequent mowing when water and sunlight are readily available.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightly. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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