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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Speaking to a group of reporters at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, Pa., on Saturday, Aug. 16, co-owner Kelce, 37, said that the ideas for the Garage Beer ads come purely from keeping it simple. Marina Watts, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025 Any prices or levels shown are either historical or purely indicative. Katie Stockton, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2025 For all audiences, this is a purely inspirational tale. Michelle Kung, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025 Stepping into the lobby, there's a purely New York feeling: chic, in-the-know, and quietly powerful. Elizabeth Cantrell, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for purely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purely
Adverb
  • Israel apparently achieved this air superiority solely with the support of its KC-707s.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • These conditions are not solely caused by ultraviolet radiation, says Dr. Adam Friedman, Professor and Chair of Dermatology at George Washington University.
    Andrea Muraskin, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • Since 2019, the nonprofit has had only a small presence in the Milwaukee area, apart from its main headquarters in the Chicago area.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
  • That pushback has only fueled the pressure campaign: robocalls, texts, a string of public statements from all seven Republican U.S. representatives for Indiana supporting redistricting.
    Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 26 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • The American Kennel Club notes that cats and dogs often get along well when both are socialized properly, with compatible temperaments and respectful boundaries.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
  • The lawsuit alleged that Twin Rivers failed in its obligation to properly supervise Wilson, allowing his misconduct to go unchecked for several years.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • That means focus exclusively on how your child feels and avoid talking about their specific fear.
    Cari Shane, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025
  • Another option is switching the tournament to a December/January event played exclusively in warm-weather MLS (and hopefully Liga MX) venues.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • The momentum is good news for ERS which will allow the retailer to scale quickly in a sector that is only just beginning to be developed.
    Kevin Rozario, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • The Kansas City Current have also scored a league-leading 36 goals, eight more than the Washington Spirit and San Diego Wave, while conceding just 10.
    Asli Pelit, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • More often, though, the series simply mistakes tragic backstory for meaningful character development.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The hardest part of becoming a millionaire is simply getting started.
    David Rae, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • The result is a hollow movie—but its very hollowness gives rise to a diabolical twist that’s more than merely clever.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
  • All of this was merely a prelude to the end game: Starfactory.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Purely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purely. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

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