1
as in quietly
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in lightly
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 softly
This is of course the whole point of conservatism, to go slowly, tread softly, because everything has unintended consequences.
—
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
The café is spacious and softly buzzing, with quiet conversations carrying over from distant tables.
—Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
When some Democrats began softly applauding, Ritter turned on them.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
The pop star completed her ethereal look with a softly tousled hairstyle and delicate drop earrings.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Use a rolling pin to softly pound it a few times, breaking it up and softening it along the way.
—Molly Allen, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
Effortless and eternally chic, the French bob is defined by its softly undone finish and chin-grazing length.
—Jennifer Hussein, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
Bailey drove again to the basket and softly banked in a left-handed layup to trim the Monarchs’ lead to 73-72.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 29 Jan. 2026
Land softly with your knees bent and go right into your next jump squat.
—Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 29 Jan. 2026
Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
The café is spacious and softly buzzing, with quiet conversations carrying over from distant tables.
—Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
When some Democrats began softly applauding, Ritter turned on them.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026
The pop star completed her ethereal look with a softly tousled hairstyle and delicate drop earrings.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Use a rolling pin to softly pound it a few times, breaking it up and softening it along the way.
—Molly Allen, Southern Living, 1 Feb. 2026
Effortless and eternally chic, the French bob is defined by its softly undone finish and chin-grazing length.
—Jennifer Hussein, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
Bailey drove again to the basket and softly banked in a left-handed layup to trim the Monarchs’ lead to 73-72.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 29 Jan. 2026
Land softly with your knees bent and go right into your next jump squat.
—Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan, Health, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for softly
Adverb
-
Others in the crowd, including rapper Snoop Dogg, watched quietly as the star skier was finally taken off the course.—
ANDREW DAMPF,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Individual personalities lean more toward quietly confident rather than brash.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Water cuttings lightly, just enough to moisten the soil.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Star Hadramout’s hummus was great, its lightly charred mulawah—a traditional flatbread—superb.—
Jeff Chu,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The outline of the jaw jitters faintly—two layers are ever so slightly misaligned.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The bonito smelled barely of the ocean, clean and faintly salty.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Backfill the soil around the root balls and press down gently on the soil to firm it.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Afterward, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush to remove grooves.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
11 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
One man aboard the boat knew how to navigate the mangroves and sandbars of the keys, and with the late summer sun beating down on the rafters, the boat pushed out feebly into the open ocean.—
Miriam Pensack,
The Dial,
30 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
On an idyllic farm in rural Georgia, Black beekeeping parents tenderly share their knowledge of life, love, and nature with their young sons while restoring their homestead.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Incredibly, Joel takes a seat and begins to tenderly tickle the ivories.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Softly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/softly. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
