as in accurately
in a literal, true, or accurate way
She is not one for hyperbole—all of her warnings should be taken literally. The employees took the CEO's remarks literally and rightfully worried about the future health of the company.
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Recent Examples of literally
The stakes are literally the future of our civilization.
—
Michael E. Mann, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep – literally – Kate and Mac’s life and holiday season get upended.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep — literally — Kate and Mac’s life and holiday season get upended.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Of all the questionable advice pinging around social media platforms, this one really stinks—literally.
—Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literally
Michael E. Mann, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep – literally – Kate and Mac’s life and holiday season get upended.
—Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
But when Delilah unexpectedly shows up on her doorstep — literally — Kate and Mac’s life and holiday season get upended.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
Of all the questionable advice pinging around social media platforms, this one really stinks—literally.
—Ashleigh N. Deluca, Parents, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literally
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literally
Adverb
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However, social media users appeared to read some conflict into the body language between the pair, whether accurately or not.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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This would be a crucial step toward accurately capturing the evolving nature of both the public sector and the gig economy, allowing for a more nuanced and accurate forecast of workforce trends.—
Jeff Gapusan,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Espresso’s pricing model is tied directly to results.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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By 2019, Kirk expanded into electoral politics with Turning Point Action, a 501(c)(4) that allowed his network to directly campaign for Republicans.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Video
Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Cite this Entry
“Literally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literally. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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