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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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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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 Today’s problem is purely the result of irresponsible increases in spending on a faulty assumption that the state would see a sustained revenue boom. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 12 June 2025 When a scene is purely comedic, there’s a lot more room for fun runs like that. Antonia Blyth, Deadline, 10 June 2025 The brain is not purely a cognition machine, but an object sculpted by evolution. Conor Feehly, Quanta Magazine, 4 June 2025 Unlike other pieces chosen purely for aesthetic appeal, charm bracelets tell a story. Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for purely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely
Adverb
  • Romantic comedies have always existed almost solely for pleasure’s sake—that’s what’s great about them.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 13 June 2025
  • The Coliseum has shifted the tournament to the west coast for the first time after games previously were played solely in Dallas, the hub of American cricket, and a small ground in Morrisville, North Carolina.
    Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Adverb
  • The defeat clinched the Mets’ first series loss at Citi Field in more than a month and only their second of the season.
    Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 15 June 2025
  • Over the settlement’s 10-year umbrella, that could amount to $20 billion of money that, by the way, only a handful of schools actually have.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
Adverb
  • But here’s the catch: Estate freezes take time to set up properly.
    Anatoly Iofe, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • When protein is properly digested, it’s converted into amino acids and peptides, whereas undigested proteins can alter the intestinal environment.
    MISAKI KAWATSU, Vogue, 10 June 2025
Adverb
  • Nearly half of all infants are not exclusively breastfed, and over 1 million children suffer from anemia.
    Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025
  • Olsen, who quietly welcomed a son with her husband in 2023, starred alongside Sweetin in Full House from 1987 to 1995 Sweetin exclusively spoke to PEOPLE on June 5 before a live record of her How Rude, Tanneritos!
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 7 June 2025
Adverb
  • Beutel, a computer engineer specializing in mountain monitoring, had just witnessed a glacier collapse.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 7 June 2025
  • But Cyrus, who just released her Something Beautiful audio recording last week, with the visual album set to come out next week, is already looking to the future.
    Hilary Lewis, HollywoodReporter, 7 June 2025
Adverb
  • The new service — dubbed simply ESPN, like its flagship linear network — will surface ahead of the NFL’s next play cycle, and Disney aims to convince customers to bundle it with other broadband offerings like Disney+ and Hulu.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 June 2025
  • Projecting Nitrate Safely Today, the majority of films created on nitrate simply no longer exist, and those that do have to be carefully stored.
    Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Adverb
  • By understanding this nuanced relationship, leaders and HR professionals can develop more effective interventions that address the underlying causes of disengagement rather than merely treating its symptoms.
    Jonathan H. Westover, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Could Berg have launched that boycott, instead of merely threatening to do so?
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 9 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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