BARELY Synonyms: 36 Similar and Opposite Words

barely

adverb

ˈber-lē

Definition of barely

as in slightly

by a very small margin we barely made it to the church on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 barely In their inaugural outing, Chicago barely swept past Philadelphia. — Sara MacHi, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 Prue barely even acknowledges the guy riding a unicycle past her local coffee shop while playing the bagpipes from under a Darth Vader mask. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 11 Oct. 2026 Her fashion choices are just as much a part of the package, with a wardrobe of sparkling, barely-there separates and statement boots complementing her signature bright pink hair. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2026 After years of neglect, the once-rotating, 12-foot cross was barely attached and was nearly removed following heavy rains earlier this year. — Mickey Rapkin, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for barely

Adverb

However, a wall of wind shear is expected to slightly destabilize the storm just before landfall — slowing its wind speeds to 100 mph and broadening the system, spreading the high winds and heavy rains even further from the core of the storm.

— Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Barkley delivered a nasty spin move that left him slightly sideways, forcing him to jump and then leapfrog backward.

— Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of slightly

Adverb

The questions came after Zacharia made a brief debut to the media on Tuesday, taking just three questions from reporters after reading off a script.

— Michael Birnbaum The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Genetic comparisons revealed that deep-sea viral communities in the region are almost entirely unique, with just 4 percent of their protein clusters matching global databases.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of just

Adverb

Unlike prior records this year, this latest run has been narrowly lead by a few stocks tied to the AI hype and deemed unfettered by adverse macroeconomic headwinds.

— Deena Zaidi,Sean Conlon, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Unionized staff at the Whitney Museum in New York ratified its second contract Sunday night, hours ahead a strike deadline, narrowly heading off a disruption to the opening of a forthcoming Roy Lichtenstein retrospective.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of narrowly

Adverb

Gowanus is hardly the only postindustrial New York neighborhood rife with toxic waste — in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, the extent of toxic contamination is still being uncovered and mitigated in an ad hoc fashion.

— Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
Delivered in 2003, Octopus hardly skimped on luxury, with a spa, 15-seat cinema, and glass-bottom pool.

— Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of hardly

Browse Nearby Words

bare-knuckle

barely

bareness

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“Barely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barely. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of barely

adverb

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