merely

Study(16)

UK /ˈmɪəli/ US /ˈmɪɹli/

adv 2

Collocations

ADJ.

biological, different, good, live, social

The differences between the two proposals were merely social rather than biological in nature.

VERB + MERELY

compose, hate, said, seem, shouldn't, transforms

The situation seems merely like a temporary setback that we can overcome together.

MERELY + NOUN

'em, fact, imitation, ornament, pearl, pursuit

She bought those expensive shoes as merely an ornament for her closet, never wearing them.

PREP.

from, in, into, on, on

The problem didn't stem merely from lack of money but from poor planning.

ADV.

also, extremely, instead

She didn't merely accept the job offer; she was extremely excited about the opportunity.

Definitions

adv

Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more.

But let us not be unfair to the kibitzers. Not all players hate 'em. Some merely dislike 'em.

All these people, who have tried to set you against me out of envy and love of slander – and some too merely passing on what they have been told by others – all these are very difficult to deal with.

Wholly, entirely.

It is not forgot, since the acute and distinct Arminius was perverted meerly by the perusing of a namelesse discourse writt'n at Delf, which at first he took in hand to confute.

I am sorry to say, that I doubt if there is a judge in Massachusetts who is prepared to resign his office, and get his living innocently, whenever it is required of him to pass sentence under a law which is merely contrary to the law of God.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adverb — and nothing more

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

But let us not be unfair to the kibitzers. Not all players hate 'em. Some merely dislike 'em.

Wiktionary

It is not forgot, since the acute and distinct Arminius was perverted meerly by the perusing of a namelesse discourse writt'n at Delf, which at first he took in hand to confute.

Wiktionary

Instead she merely looked surprised and - could it be - amused.

Tatoeba · #38075

You should never look down on a person merely because he is poor.

Tatoeba · #40846

They are merely different.

Tatoeba · #40856

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, merely is marked as obsolete. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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