Synonyms for merely
mere·ly

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.4 / 5 votes

1. merely

   But ranges from the faintest contrast to absolute negation; as, I am willing to go, but (on the other hand) content to stay; he is not an honest man, but (on the contrary) a villain. The contrast may be with a silent thought; as, but let us go (it being understood that we might stay longer). In restrictive use, except and excepting are slightly more emphatic than but; we say, no injury but a scratch; or, no injury except some painful bruises. Such expressions as "words are but breath" (nothing but) may be referred to the restrictive use by ellipsis. So may the use of but in the sense of unless; as, "it never rains but it pours." To the same head must be referred the conditional use; as, "you may go, but with your father's consent" (i. e., "provided you have," "except that you must have," etc.). "Doubt but" is now less used than the more logical "doubt that." But never becomes a full synonym for and; and adds something like, but adds something different; "brave and tender" implies that tenderness is natural to the brave; "brave but tender" implies that bravery and tenderness are rarely combined. For the concessive use, compare NOTWITHSTANDING.

   Synonyms:
   and, barely, besides, but, except, further, however, just, moreover, nevertheless, notwithstanding, notwithstanding, only, provided, save, still, that, tho, unless, yet

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:4.0 / 2 votes

1. merely, simply, just, only, butadverb

   and nothing more

   "I was merely asking"; "it is simply a matter of time"; "just a scratch"; "he was only a child"; "hopes that last but a moment"

   Synonyms:
   solely, plainly, hardly, alone, barely, exclusively, only if, but, only, entirely, just, scarce, just now, simply, precisely, only when, exactly, scarcely

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. merelyadjective

   Synonyms:
   simply, purely, only, solely, barely

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. merelyadjective

   Synonyms:
   purely, absolutely, simply, barely, only

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "merely":

   simply, only, just, purely, solely, simple, alone, exclusively

How to pronounce merely?

How to say merely in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use merely in a sentence?

1. Nicholas Alahverdian:

   Perpetually restless, Thomas Wolfe was “without a home — a vagabond since [he] was seven” and seeking out where he belonged physically (i.e. in Asheville, his home or Harvard) as well as intellectually. This concept that he was indeed without a father led him to gain greater understanding, eventually realizing that his search for a patriarch was not merely a “father in the flesh,” but a substitution for God, a guiding light, and an alluring source of inspiration.

2. Johann Christian Friedrich von Schiller:

   A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled one is truly vanquished.

3. Edward Crawford:

   Before the photo was taken, the canister ... was shot and it landed a couple of feet away from me and some children standing on the sidewalk, i was not throwing the canister at the police; I was merely getting the canister away from me and the kids.

4. Cornell William Brooks:

   This was not merely a mass shooting, not merely a matter of gun violence, this was a racial hate crime and must be confronted as such.

5. Oscar Fingall O'Flahertie Wills Wilde:

   Each time that one loves is the only time one has ever loved. Difference of object does not alter singleness of passion. It merely intensifies it. We can have but one great experience at best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as often as possible.