Definition of purelynext
1
as in innocently
with purity of thought and deed the devout girl vowed to live her life purely and in the service of God

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in solely
for nothing other than I fish purely for the fun of it—I don't care if I end up with no fish to fry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in only
nothing more than her pleasantries were purely for show and masked her true feelings

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of purely While once considered purely practical, antique tilt-top tables are coveted today for their space-saving design and quality construction. Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 4 Feb. 2026 Shōgun does serve cocktails like a matcha paloma and sake sangria, but Secreto has its own drink menu that is purely Latin-inspired. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb. 2026 Policies are rarely purely good, and the ban is likely to result in trade-offs. Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026 The Attorney General, Andrea Campbell is blocking an audit of the legislature for purely political reasons. Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for purely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely
Adverb
  • The mistake begins innocently enough.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The story starts innocently enough.
    Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Adverb
  • They are no longer seen solely as operators or stewards of capital.
    Alan H.H. Fleischmann, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
  • All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, or its parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium.
    Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • The report noted the toxin is only found naturally in poison dart frogs in South America, not Russia.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 15 Feb. 2026
  • For the next five years, only one game per season was played in London, with many owners skeptical about sacrificing revenue from home games in a market dominated by the Premier League.
    Tom Chitty, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • The hack works best if duvets are secured properly or layered separately to prevent shifting.
    Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Authorities are investigating whether the device did or did not work properly.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • Issues such as menopause and perimenopause, endometriosis and Alzheimer’s disease — conditions that exclusively or disproportionately affect women — remain inadequately studied.
    Michelle Kaufman, Baltimore Sun, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Richard also chatted exclusively to Reynolds and Mac — both of whom sound as invested as ever.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • The more massive the original star is, the shorter the post-AGB lifetime, down to a minimum of just over 1000 years.
    Big Think, Big Think, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The family was seeking safety in the town of Bohodukhiv, some 60 kilometers (38 miles) west of Kharkiv, having fled their home further east just days ago, Ukrainian police said in a statement posted on Telegram.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • Perhaps the crudest way to make the point would be simply to note that the rise of illiberalism has gone hand in hand with a decline of theistic belief and religious practice—both in the United States and around the world.
    Christopher Beha, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
  • Today, Bad Bunny faces similar backlash for challenging societal norms — both are simply pushing boundaries.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Adverb
  • Monitoring and documentation requirements of releases are merely recommended, and avoidance and minimization of adverse impacts to animals, plants and the public are left up to the industry.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
  • When there is no separation of powers, but merely a separation of parties, this intricate system breaks down, leaving an imperial presidency with exactly the concentrated power that the Founders feared.
    Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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