gently

adverb

Definition of gentlynext
1
as in weakly

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Dissimilar Words
2
as in tenderly

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 gently The classic profile is gently supportive for back and stomach sleepers, while the contoured option offers enhanced comfort and support for side and back sleepers. — V Brand Stories, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 As the pancake cooks, gently press the cream towards the cake so it will be absorbed. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2026 Cook gently for 1-2 minutes, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens enough to lightly coat the back of a spoon. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026 Fifty years in the shadows, gently nudging Southland kids into the light. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Aug. 2026 In a move months in the making, three male beluga whales from a shuttered marine park in Canada were gently lowered into a pool at SeaWorld San Diego on Saturday, saving the animals from possibly being euthanized. — Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 Wipe gently, using minimal pressure, to tackle everyday dust and fingerprints. — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 22 Aug. 2026 The Society was a sprawling campus on the Adyar River, its peaceful walking paths dotted with old buildings and gently unkempt trees. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 For light scratches, use a microfiber cloth and non-abrasive cleaner, always working gently in the direction of the grain. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 15 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gently
  1. weakly
  2. tenderly
  3. softly
  4. sweetly
  5. delicately
  6. divinely
  7. feebly
  8. compassionately
Adverb
  • Led by Arne Güllich, researchers analyzed the developmental histories of 35,000 world-class adults, including Nobel laureates and Olympians, finding early excellence is weakly linked to adult achievement.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Native traditions have repeatedly been acknowledged in principle – named, counted, formally recognized – but weakly protected in practice.
    — Kerri J. Malloy, The Conversation, 9 July 2026
Definition of weakly
Adverb
  • The first portion of Psalm 23 describes God as a shepherd who protects, tenderly cares for, and leads his people, even in the darkest of times.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Panettiere tenderly conveys the turmoil of being a kid who’s just trying to keep it together in the face of unthinkable circumstances.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of tenderly
Adverb
  • His burst was impressive, as was his ability to fly at the rim and put the ball softly off the glass.
    — CJ Moore, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • In the meantime, a light powder like Milani Stay Put Brow Color can softly fill in gaps.
    — Casey DelBasso, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of softly
Adverb
  • In a profoundly prolific decade, Texas singer-songwriter Charley Crockett has refined a soulful country purview, crooning sweetly about love and perseverance in misfortune and yielding rave reviews and Grammy nominations.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The onions have been cooked low and oh-so-slow, turning sweetly silky.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of sweetly
Adverb
  • Up front, the delicately tapered nose hints at two of Maranello’s greatest hits from the 1980s, the 512 BBi and the Testarossa.
    — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And as Maruša pushes back her departure again and again, Alja’s behavior becomes more erratic — dark and deeply sad revelations that Menart tempers with a delicately irreverent sense of humor.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of delicately
Adverb
  • Murder might seem like a harsh punishment for being a greedy guest, but in the poem, Zeus and Athena support and divinely assist Odysseus’s plan to massacre Penelope’s arrogant suitors.
    — Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026
  • In speeches acclaiming our nation and our leader, we will be told that we (some of us, anyway) are divinely chosen.
    — Jim Rasenberger, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
Definition of divinely
Adverb
  • Chief swam feebly across, joined the other two horses on the bank, and stood there shaking.
    — Dolores Brown, Outdoor Life, 17 June 2026
  • Judge lined it feebly into the glove of an outfielder.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
Definition of feebly
Adverb
  • When delivered compassionately, a no communicates and models a strong sense of judgment as an executive.
    — Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • We are taxed, compassionately pass bills, paid for with Bonds, attend black tie dinners, and hear about 10-year plans after 10-year plans to solve the problem Sacramento is creating.
    — Linh Tat, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Definition of compassionately

Browse Nearby Words

gentling
gently
gentries
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Cite this Entry

“Gently.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gently. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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