simply

adverb

ˈsim-plē How to pronounce simply (audio)
Definition of simplynext
1
as in only
for nothing other than the scholarships are awarded simply on the basis of merit uninterested in food, she eats simply to keep alive

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in just
nothing more than it's simply smart to shop around before buying an item

Synonyms & Similar 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 simply Put simply, penalty relief describes the broader set of IRS provisions that can help taxpayers avoid, reduce or remove certain penalties. — Jamela Adam, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 Traditions only matter if people are still observing them, and in the case of the Pro Bowl, the audience simply stopped showing up. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Among them, the best Korean facial mists stand out for their thoughtful formulas that do more than simply hydrate. — Jenny Jin, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2026 Eventually, his truck became so recognizable that simply parking it outside could attract customers. — Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for simply
Recent Examples of Synonyms for simply
  1. only
  2. just
  3. purely
  4. merely
  5. solely
  6. exclusively
Adverb
  • Lisa is seeing what this experience could be for her, which only emphasized just how bad her current situation on RHOSLC is.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • What Espada and his club did across the ensuing six days must only enhance Crane’s outlook.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of only
Adverb
  • But his record of publicly interacting with Piker — including at a pool party just before the primary — remains a sore point among some Michigan Democrats.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Search and rescue efforts are only just beginning, and these first hours are filled with uncertainty, but also with hope.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of just
Adverb
  • Note that credit bidding really does not purely involve a credit of a part of the judgment held against the debtor.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Tswalu was acquired by the philanthropic Oppenheimer family purely for environmental conservation.
    — Paul Jebara, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of purely
Adverb
  • What might seem arrogance in others feels merely reasonable coming from her.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • What to the other parties was merely the sale of a ship was to him a momentous event involving a radically new view of existence.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of merely
Adverb
  • On another metric, which looks solely at the serve itself (rather than how the point plays out) to generate a 0-10 rating, Shelton comes in fifth on tour.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Some are starting small private businesses solely to afford the tickets to leave.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of solely
Adverb
  • The institute said malaria in Germany almost exclusively affects long-haul travelers who were infected in malaria-endemic areas, and that malaria transmitted within a German airport is rare, the BBC reported.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Since Tiffany’s attacks began, Crowley has moved in Hong’s general direction, emphasizing his requirements—using exclusively renewable energy to power new data centers, building them with union labor—for developers to receive the tax breaks.
    — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of exclusively

Browse Nearby Words

simplistic
simply
simps
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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