as in slightly
by a very small margin
they narrowly escaped with their lives
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Recent Examples of narrowly
In November 2024, California voters narrowly rejected an initiative that would have raised the minimum wage to $18 an hour.
—
Editorial, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
But Denys Kostyshyn narrowly missed a header in the top right corner of the net in the 15th minute, and Spokane goalkeeper Carlos Merancio Valdez stoned Kostyshyn from 10 yards with a one-handed save in the 50th minute.
—Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2026
On the Republican side, Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding is the presumptive GOP nominee for the seat that Bacon has narrowly held since 2017.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2026
If this ever becomes an issue, it can be addressed narrowly.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
The following summer, the California Independent System Operator narrowly avoided a repeat when high temperatures blanketed nearly the entire state for days.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
State legislatures can define conversion therapy a bit more narrowly, for example, by prohibiting the physical and more coercive techniques that initially gave rise to these bans.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Ebert then allegedly gave him the middle finger and narrowly missed hitting him with the vehicle.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
But one bill that narrowly passed would let a small minority of voters overhaul local budgets.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Editorial, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
But Denys Kostyshyn narrowly missed a header in the top right corner of the net in the 15th minute, and Spokane goalkeeper Carlos Merancio Valdez stoned Kostyshyn from 10 yards with a one-handed save in the 50th minute.
—Idaho Statesman, 5 Apr. 2026
On the Republican side, Omaha City Councilman Brinker Harding is the presumptive GOP nominee for the seat that Bacon has narrowly held since 2017.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 5 Apr. 2026
If this ever becomes an issue, it can be addressed narrowly.
—Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026
The following summer, the California Independent System Operator narrowly avoided a repeat when high temperatures blanketed nearly the entire state for days.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
State legislatures can define conversion therapy a bit more narrowly, for example, by prohibiting the physical and more coercive techniques that initially gave rise to these bans.
—Kevin Cope, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
Ebert then allegedly gave him the middle finger and narrowly missed hitting him with the vehicle.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
But one bill that narrowly passed would let a small minority of voters overhaul local budgets.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for narrowly
Adverb
-
The image is tightly cropped, the carriage wheels slightly cut off.—
Hilton Als,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Improvements included plenty of new alien ships to battle, as well as an invincibility ability for your ship to make the levels slightly less challenging.—
Daryl Baxter,
Space.com,
4 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
Unaccustomed to living with someone like Sprinkles, Louise was nearly moved to tears by this delivery of weeds, but Lynn had barely noticed.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The older son, Dustin, barely speaks, and baby James is wearing a grocery bag for a diaper.—
Francine Prose,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Narrowly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/narrowly. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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