as in independently
without aid or support
the team's star slugger hit three home runs, effectively winning the game single-handedly
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Recent Examples of single-handedly
Davis almost single-handedly forced the perennially high mortality rate in Sheriff’s Office jails onto the front burner of the public agenda, authoring a series of exposés first in the pages of CityBeat and later in the Union-Tribune.
—
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 July 2026
Their search leads them to Dort, a robot alien who has been sent to Earth to single-handedly take over the planet.
—
Parents,
1 July 2026
Indeed, undeterred by the danger of military patrols and unforgiving conditions, the football obsessives resort to everything from stealing government electricity to peering through enemies’ windows to catch a glimpse of the game single-handedly won by the less problematic Ronaldo.
—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Ripley, the only soldier with sufficient demolition experience, single-handedly moved 500 pounds of explosives beneath the bridge over the course of several hours.
—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
No entity can single-handedly solve the energy affordability crisis.
—
Alexandra Klass,
The Conversation,
17 June 2026
At the 1958 World Cup, a 17-year-old played his way onto the field for Brazil and spurred them to win the whole tournament, almost single-handedly.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
Because the attorney general single-handedly can solve the problem.
—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
10 June 2026
Maradona was subject to disgraceful physical treatment and still won the match, well, single-handedly.
—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Jeff McDonald,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 July 2026
Their search leads them to Dort, a robot alien who has been sent to Earth to single-handedly take over the planet.
—
Parents,
1 July 2026
Indeed, undeterred by the danger of military patrols and unforgiving conditions, the football obsessives resort to everything from stealing government electricity to peering through enemies’ windows to catch a glimpse of the game single-handedly won by the less problematic Ronaldo.
—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
Ripley, the only soldier with sufficient demolition experience, single-handedly moved 500 pounds of explosives beneath the bridge over the course of several hours.
—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
No entity can single-handedly solve the energy affordability crisis.
—
Alexandra Klass,
The Conversation,
17 June 2026
At the 1958 World Cup, a 17-year-old played his way onto the field for Brazil and spurred them to win the whole tournament, almost single-handedly.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
Because the attorney general single-handedly can solve the problem.
—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
10 June 2026
Maradona was subject to disgraceful physical treatment and still won the match, well, single-handedly.
—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for single-handedly
Adverb
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Israel has barred foreign journalists from independently reporting in Gaza since the start of the war.
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Stunt designed to showcase agility, not AI rebellion Despite alarming many viewers at first glance, the viral video does not show a humanoid robot experiencing a software failure or acting independently.
Adverb
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Take every precaution to never leave young children and pets alone in vehicles, especially in extreme heat when car interiors can quickly become hazardous.
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Producers of corn and wheat, which rely heavily on fertilizer, can spend around a third of their operating costs on fertilizer alone.
Adverb
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Avila’s sister, Patricia Avila, who was also on the job when the mauling took place, was awarded $885,000 for emotional distress, and Maria Avila’s husband, Oscar Olivo, was separately awarded $50,000.
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In conventional winemaking, white grapes are pressed and the juice ferments separately from the skins.
Adverb
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Set high above the town with breathtaking sea views from all 27 suites and 13 private villas (which are individually staffed), La Réserve offers serenity and discretion—all while being just a few minutes' drive from Pampelonne Beach.
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The Expansion of Institutional Discretion Viewed individually, each of these policies can be defended.
Adverb
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On the other hand, a large yard filled solely with small plants can look indistinct unless a few larger plants are added as anchors.
-
This ruling compels companies to confront systemic biases embedded in their hiring data, rather than solely blaming technology.
Cite this Entry
“Single-handedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/single-handedly. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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