MEANLY Synonyms: 146 Similar and Opposite Words

meanly

adverb

Definition of meanly

as in humbly

in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion meanly silent up to that point, he now felt that fair criticism was turning into gratuitous insult

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in despitefully

in a mean or spiteful manner in a meanly worded letter she told me that she never wanted to see me again

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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 meanly Fortunately, there is the compelling, if meanly portrayed, character of Michael Berman, John’s partner in the George enterprise. — Lisa Depaulo, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026 Kardashian was in court to share new details from a horrific assault in the name of seeking justice; to comment meanly on her outfit would have been a weird move. — Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 19 May 2025 At Artnet, Walter assembled a motley crew of writers, including the unstoppable Charlie Finch, who would meanly attack everyone. — Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2025 The third point in this tinderbox triangle of frenemyship is Elena, a girl in their class whom Jana side-eyes meanly for her reputation for being easy, who uploads twerking selfies to social media and who also buzzes around school jock Kris. — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 1 Sep. 2021 Later visits from the Galileo mission confirmed this very active volcanism on Io, with surface lava temperatures of 1250-1450C, meanly likely ultramafic compositions (komaiites - very low silica content, below 45 weight % and rare on Earth). — Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2011

Recent Examples of Synonyms for meanly

Adverb

Elordi nearly shoulders the running time but plays his Hig a bit too humbly.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Under the jerseys, Lee, 40, humbly posts a small University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame plaque.

— PJ Green August 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of humbly

Adverb

Though there have been tensions between Camilla and her stepson Harry over the years, royal biographer Tom Bower reported that the queen politely offered the Duke of Sussex a cup of tea.

— Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 24 Aug. 2026
Clocking in at 30 minutes, Williams’ Quartet La Jolla is a five-part work that politely utilizes dissonance and sometimes abstract rhythms.

— George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of politely

Adverb

Although the Supreme Court’s power to overrule Congress is now broadly accepted, it was bitterly contested for more than a century.

— Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
After six months of war, the deadlock has left the Islamic Republic bitterly divided, while its ultimate arbiter, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, remains in hiding.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitterly

Adverb

The president, who has long insisted that someone maliciously vandalized the lining of the pool with a knife or boxcutter, first rebuked Pirro's decision to drop the Hearn case in a Saturday social media post.

— Emily Chang, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
During his arraignment a month later, Brown pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to unlawfully and maliciously cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of maliciously

Adverb

In an early 2000s commercial, Michelob Ultra portrayed a woman getting viciously tackled in a football game at a park.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Reyes allegedly smashed a hole through a closet wall from the neighboring apartment and viciously attacked the teen.

— Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of viciously

Browse Nearby Words

meanings

meanly

meanness

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“Meanly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meanly. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of meanly

adverb

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