FREELY Synonyms: 74 Similar and Opposite Words

freely

adverb

ˈfrē-lē

Definition of freely

as in voluntarily

of one's own free will I will freely give my life for my country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in easily

without difficulty the horse broke the halter rope quite freely

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 freely The push forms part of a wider Canada–South Asia Screen Corridor, an effort organizers say will help stories and talent move more freely between Canada, South Asia and other international markets. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 Moczarski, who had once tried to assassinate Stroop, discovered that his cellmate was entirely unrepentant, and willing to discuss his crimes freely. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Aug. 2026 One wild card for inflation has been oil prices, which have been swinging with uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow oil tankers to freely exit the Persian Gulf again. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 Then the attention economy takes over, unleashing too many athletes who speak freely to better themselves rather than a select few who speak bravely to better society. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for freely

Recent Examples of Synonyms for freely

Adverb

There are also incentives for manufacturers to voluntarily test products.

— Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
Bristol Myers has also voluntarily paused enrollment in autoimmune trials evaluating its own CAR-T treatment zola-cel.

— Andrew Joseph, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of voluntarily

Adverb

Ford had introduced the moving assembly line in 1913, subjecting workers to repeating the same easily learned task again and again—boosting productivity and disciplining laborers.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2026
Floating through crystal-clear water before hiking silently through cathedral-like caverns was easily the highlight of my time in the Mexican Caribbean and a reminder that one of the region's greatest attractions lies well beyond the beach.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of easily

Adverb

But the very act of putting on a wearable—of willingly adorning oneself with a tiny computerized narc—is an act of surrender.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
If Gluck has willingly conceded to the anti-erotic proclivities of his intended audience, Araki has, naturally, set out to defy them.

— Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of willingly

Adverb

Versatile, timeless, and effortlessly stylish, the Italian leather loafers have a removable Ortholite insole and are designed with support in mind.

— Kaitlin Gates, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026
Streamline Cap Table And Valuation Work Cap table management and 409A valuations deliver the biggest automation wins, eliminating manual errors, dramatically reducing turnaround times and scaling effortlessly with client growth.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of effortlessly

Adverb

In moderate traffic conditions, BlueCruise executes all of the above smoothly and predictably without requiring driver input.

— Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
For a precision folding bike where millimeter-perfect alignment dictates how smoothly the hinges open and close, keeping the metal perfectly straight is a manufacturing advantage.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of smoothly

Adverb

He was beloved for his grace and elegance on the court and his easy-going manner off it.

— Don Riddell, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
There was no sign of the usual easy-going, affable nature that has been so indicative of Joe Root’s personality in his 14 years as an England cricketer.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of easy

Adverb

Researchers have developed a tiny semiconductor device that can change the frequency, or color, of light far more efficiently than conventional designs, potentially shrinking components used in telecommunications and quantum technologies.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
The reduction correlates to the elimination of FDA support staff roles, or personnel who booked travel and carried out food testing for contamination, creating an administrative slowdown to efficiently carry out key safety and inspection protocol.

— Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of efficiently

Adverb

Technological advances have already made drones cheaply and readily available for purchase, with longer ranges, higher payloads, and an improved ability to evade electronic warfare.

— Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026
Local sports’ future on TV For the last five years, TV executives, producers and directors have anticipated a direct-to-consumer, ala carte menu for games will be readily available, and ultimately replace the traditional formats and models.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of readily

Browse Nearby Words

free loves

freely

freeman

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Freely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/freely. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of freely

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

matriculate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes