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

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How to use merely in a sentence?

1. Boris Johnson:

   The figures teased out of their report on the fall in domestic and even long-haul connectivity show that as a nation, by expanding Heathrow, we would merely be investing in decline, their report very clearly shows that a third runway will fail both London and the UK on every level.

2. Albert Einstein:

   The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.

3. Henry Miller:

   What we all hope in reaching for a book, is to meet a man of our own heart, to experience tragedies and delights which we ourselves lack the courage to invite, to dream dreams which will render life more hallucinating, perhaps also to discover a philosophy of life which will make us more adequate in meeting the trials and ordeals which beset us. To merely add to our store of knowledge or improve our culture, whatever that may mean, seems worthless to me.

4. Dwight D. Eisenhower:

   We merely want to live in peace with all the world, to trade with them, to commune with them, to learn from their culture as they may learn from ours, so that the products of our toil may be used for our schools and our roads and our churches and not for guns and planes and tanks and ships of war.

5. Darrell Issa:

   The Justice Department's decision to close the IRS targeting investigation without a single charge or prosecution is a low point of accountability in an administration that is better known for punishing whistleblowers than the abuse and misconduct they expose, after stating that their investigation confirms that tea party and conservative groups were improperly targeted, they dismiss it merely as a byproduct of gross mismanagement and incompetence -- ignoring volumes of evidence in the public record and efforts to obstruct legitimate inquires.