as in easily
without difficulty you're not going to get off lightly if they catch you!
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 lightly The script lightly pokes fun at the lofty ambitions of theater-makers who aim to change lives through their art, while ultimately affirming the power of theater to lift people’s spirits. —
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026 Green is slightly stronger for cleaning lightly caked grime, while yellow is strong enough to strip off paint. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026 The book addresses some hard issues, and Reynolds doesn't take that lightly. —Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lightly
Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026 This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. —Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026 Green is slightly stronger for cleaning lightly caked grime, while yellow is strong enough to strip off paint. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026 The book addresses some hard issues, and Reynolds doesn't take that lightly. —Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightly
Adverb
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Werner said the parking lot is known to have coyotes at night, which could have easily harmed such a small dog.— Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
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The musical’s score by Ingrid Michaelson isn’t traditionally melodic, with big leaps from note to note that can easily strain a singer’s voice.— Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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The bias cut drapes smoothly, and the mocha dot print (my favorite option) adds a subtle statement without feeling too loud.— Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2026
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Addressing these early helps prevent avoidable friction and keeps daily life running smoothly.— Mark Travers, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Protective bumpers on the front and back help guard against scratches and dents, while four smooth-rolling wheels keep things moving effortlessly through crowded terminals.— Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
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They’re made from a cotton-blend fabric that keeps you cool on steamy spring and summer commutes, and have a five-pocket design that effortlessly combines polish with function.— Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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The easy-on, easy-off design is a win for airport security, while the sporty silhouette works with everything from jeans and sweatpants to even skirts.— Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2026
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Nothing was coming easy, not at the plate and not defensively.— Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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The logical, unromantic version of their history is that in the 17th century Chincoteague farmers moved their livestock to neighboring Assateague Island to roam freely and avoid fencing their land, as well as skirting various taxation laws.— Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
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Wild antelope prance freely while bison lazily graze in pastures.— Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 17 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Maryland built a self-service portal that will allow applicants to access key documents more efficiently.— Rajiv J. Shah, Baltimore Sun, 21 Apr. 2026
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To do that efficiently, the gate must be separated from the active channel by an insulating layer that is as thin as possible.— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Maybe only 22 percent of Americans would readily accept Homelander as their one true God, but his vision might also appeal to those Christians whose fanatic prejudices outweigh any specific loyalty to the Bible and its lessons in compassion.— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
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Reshuffling the order in which minerals emerged would create new opportunities for water’s constituent oxygen and hydrogen to combine, more readily forming hydrated minerals that, unlike ice, can endure close proximity to the blazing sun.— Javier Barbuzano, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/lightly. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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