kindly 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkīn(d)-lē How to pronounce kindly (audio)
Definition of kindlynext
1
as in kind
having or marked by sympathy and consideration for others brought homemade chicken soup out of kindly concern for my health

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2
as in helpful
promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being a vegetarian diet can be very kindly to a person hoping to lose a few pounds

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

kindly

2 of 2

adverb

1
as in nicely
with good reason or courtesy would you kindly hand me the scissors?

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pretty
chiefly Southern to some degree or extent their visit was kindly a surprise

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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 kindly
Adjective
Even the kindly Florida manatee, connoisseur of bayou seagrass, sometimes flies into a carnivorous rage, snapping up fish and gnashing them in its terrible teeth. — David Merritt Johns, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026 The show sends Pride & Prejudice‘s resident frump (a charming Ella Bruccoleri) on a journey of self-discovery filled with kindly relatives, enormous books, lavish balls and, yes, eligible suitors. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
Adverb
Test it kindly first by making one small, real ask and then watching the next 72 hours. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Speak plainly, edit kindly, and let useful precision build trust without turning everything into a critique. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for kindly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kindly
  1. kind
  2. helpful
  3. nicely
  4. pretty
  5. compassionate
  6. beneficial
  7. thoughtfully
  8. quite
Adjective
  • Shapira paints a picture of a kinder, gentler war, where technology takes soldiers away from the trenches and from the tanks, to a chair behind a screen.
    — Margaux MacColl, Vanity Fair, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Five days after Bela Bajaria was fired as Netflix‘s Chief Content Officer and replaced by Peter Rice, Ted Sarandos had nothing but kind words for his former loyal lieutenant, kinda.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of kind
Adjective
  • The quick start guide is helpful for getting the microwave ready to use, while a more extensive booklet provides the nitty-gritty details on settings and modes like the sophisticated sensor-reheating functions (more on that later).
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Subscription creep can sneak up on you, so having a tool that keeps them all in one place can be helpful.
    — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of helpful
Adverb
  • The vocals from both Lamar and Rihanna cut through the mix nicely, and the percussion was nice and detailed.
    — Christian de Looper, PC Magazine, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Setting the shifting moods expertly is Michael Giacchino’s score that nicely avoids the clichés of the genre(s) while still honoring them.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of nicely
Adverb
  • My first experiments with my at-home cream top were pretty simple.
    — Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Watching a sports car drive upside down and then launch itself into the air was pretty incredible.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of pretty
Adjective
  • The far left's open borders policy was not fair or compassionate.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Judges could sometimes consider changes to the law when deciding whether to grant compassionate release to inmates who had served at least 10 years.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of compassionate
Adjective
  • More research is needed to better understand the connection between creatine and cognition; but the supplement may be beneficial for brain health, particularly in older adults and for issues related to sleep deprivation.
    — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But Helland said such undertakings, while potentially beneficial, were voluntary on the part of the cities.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of beneficial
Adverb
  • Skipping the betting apps, or at least thoughtfully budgeting for them as entertainment, is only part of it, because money left sitting in savings accounts also misses out on compounding.
    — Jamie Franco, global macro and cross-asset strategist, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Companies that thoughtfully build and prioritize autonomous agents, which includes accounting for context, can better protect themselves from operational consequences.
    — Shekhar Iyer, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of thoughtfully
Adverb
  • But now, as everything online morphs into algorithmic social media, the case for concern has crystallized into something quite specific.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Few sports have embraced the pursuit of new audiences quite like F1, the motorsport league acquired by Liberty Media nearly a decade ago.
    — Sam Jacobs, Time, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of quite

Phrases Containing kindly

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kindlings
kindly
kindness
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Cite this Entry

“Kindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kindly. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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