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 For Coon, the answer is not simply to condemn the communities people find, but to build better ones. — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 But simply aiming to enter retirement with a $0 debt balance overlooks an important part of the equation. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 The pace of spending simply can’t be sustained, according to Samuel Tombs and Oliver Allen at Pantheon Macroeconomics. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026 Judging simply by the statistics, Liam Hendriks’ 2023 season seemed like a disaster. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 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
  • One woman writing for Hers described spending about an hour working up the courage for her first weight-loss shot, only to find the thin needle barely hurt.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
  • His films have so far ended in darkness, offering only the belief that light might exist somewhere ahead.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of only
Adverb
  • That is because Lula, Brazil’s current president and campaigning candidate, had been parading the centre of Rio just a few hundred meters away from the port.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Kagan and Soai figured out, for the first time, a way to create just one of those mirror images.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of just
Adverb
  • Everyone pretends the films were chosen purely on merit, but the slate often reads Hollywood with a lanyard and a conscience.
    — Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Separately, the standard bars new dyeing and finishing operations, excluding purely physical finishing, from sending wastewater to municipal treatment plants, according to the environment ministry.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of purely
Adverb
  • So language modeling seems to be merely a powerful component of human cognition, not its equivalent or source.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Other Mommy’s poor reviews did not deter the public, who merely wanted to see Jessica Chastain make that weird face some more.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of merely
Adverb
  • Rather than relying solely on better control software, the team is investigating whether designing the robot’s mass, inertia, and force characteristics differently can make complex movements easier to achieve.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Firms do not apply or pay to be considered, and inclusion and ranking are based solely on the list's methodology.
    — Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of solely
Adverb
  • His report shattered the notion that serious fine wine belonged exclusively to Europe and put Napa Valley on the global map.
    — Robb Report, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The Benton show focuses mostly on Pusey’s prints, drawing exclusively from the collection of Ian White, artist, educator and son of esteemed artist Charles White.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of exclusively

Browse Nearby Words

simplistic
simply
simps
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Cite this Entry

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

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