formally

adverb

Definition of formallynext
as in carefully

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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 formally Two games into the National League Championship Series, the three-peat was formally placed on life support Monday after the mighty Dodgers lost a second consecutive game to those little giants known as Milwaukee Brewers. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 These low-level thugs typically are not believed to be formally aligned with Iran. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026 The company said the implementation was formally verified using Lean, a system for checking mathematical proofs. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026 Two years later, in 1989, NYAC leadership formally adopted a rule change that ended its male-only legacy. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026 YarnProof’s launch announcement did not indicate that customs authorities have formally approved the technology as proof of regulatory compliance. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 The pope will be treated at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, formally known as the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, a nonprofit Catholic teaching hospital that is part of the Catholic Sacred Heart University. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 Anthropic threw its support behind both bills in August, and OpenAI formally endorsed them last month, the same day Newsom signed them into law. — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026 The Houthis, still formally in a truce with Riyadh, appeared unwilling to aid their Iranian partners. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for formally
  1. carefully
  2. systematically
  3. orderly
  4. gingerly
  5. meticulously
  6. methodically
  7. deliberately
Adverb
  • The appointment time may be longer than for other gel manicures—and in many cases more expensive—but that laser focus on cleaning up the cuticles, prepping the nails, and carefully applying the polish is what helps it to last.
    — Lucy Abbersteen, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Have any of these changes been carefully tested, following usual protocols for reviewing any changes to the census?
    — Nancy Krieger, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of carefully
Adverb
  • Palestinians have been systematically dehumanized, along with the broader Arab and Muslim world, to serve the foreign policy objectives of governments without questioning the moral and legal implications.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The Premier League announced Tuesday that its most successful club over the past 15 seasons, and current standings leader, systematically broke financial monitoring rules for years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of systematically
Adverb
  • The man worked as a hospital orderly, according to the AP.
    — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026
  • Policymakers have moved to keep the selloff orderly.
    — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of orderly
Adverb
  • In the fourth quarter, left tackle Rashawn Slater lay for several moments on the turf and was examined by medical staff before rising to his feet and walking gingerly to the sideline with an ankle injury.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Mariota walked gingerly to the sideline, and Drew Stevens kicked a field goal for a 6-0 lead.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of gingerly
Adverb
  • Manicurists use both manual and electric tools to meticulously trim and tidy the cuticles—leaving them as neat as humanly possible—and to prepare and shape your natural nails.
    — Lucy Abbersteen, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026
  • In the process of making the movie, Selick and his team of some 120 people created more than 200 physical models, which were meticulously positioned and photographed, creating the still frames that provided the basis for the animation.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of meticulously
Adverb
  • And then the game starts, the nerves dissipate, and the opponent is methodically slayed.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • True North methodically marched through Norland’s defense on its opening possession before Katz decided to attack deep.
    — D’Joumbarey Moreau, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of methodically
Adverb
  • The paper, led by a researcher named Evan Hubinger, described an experiment in which Anthropic’s team had deliberately trained AI models to behave deceptively.
    — Kevin Roose, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Some are very hands on, others deliberately removed from almost all day-to-day decisions.
    — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of deliberately

Browse Nearby Words

formalizing
formally
formals
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Cite this Entry

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

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