KNOWINGLY Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

knowingly

adverb

Definition of knowingly

as in intentionally

with full awareness of what one is doing cannot convict unless the defendant knowingly committed perjury

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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 knowingly Only one person in this friend group is knowingly connected to a violent cult, so are we supposed to view him as a potential suspect? — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026 The payout is part of a massive multistate settlement resolving claims that Meta intentionally designed its products to be addictive and knowingly exposed young people to mental harm. — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 26 Aug. 2026 One of Gates’ most striking claims, though, is that tech leaders are knowingly downplaying AI’s risks because of the money involved. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Aug. 2026 Rather than hiding from the toughest challenges, Hill confronted them head-on despite knowingly taking on some short-term pain and cost. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 Agencies may share that information with other law enforcement agencies for those purposes, and knowingly obtaining or using the data under false pretenses or for another purpose can result in a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026 The pervading myth goes that Henry was knowingly tricked into marrying Anne of Cleves by her falsely beguiling thirst trap of a portrait. — Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 21 Aug. 2026 In May, Spitzer announced the creation of a e-bike new unit aimed at reviewing all potential criminal charges against youth and adults, including parents who knowingly allow their kids to illegally ride the electric vehicles. — Ryanne Mena, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2026 The lawsuit accuses Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hide these harms from the public. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for knowingly

Adverb

Prosecutors argued at trial that Shirilla intentionally drove into the building to end her toxic relationship with Russo and that Flanagan was an unintended victim who happened to be in the car.

— Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Portman actually released no statement, and many critics noted that Cusk’s novel is more of an intentionally disorienting examination of the artifices of self and celebrity than a tell-all roman à clef.

— René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of intentionally

Adverb

Smotrich and his partners have dispersed new settlements in places with high tactical importance, deliberately separating areas under Palestinian control to disrupt the territorial continuity that could one day form the basis of a Palestinian state.

— Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 2 Sep. 2026
In other words, the curtains were part of the plan, not a last-minute attempt to conceal thousands of empty seats — and Carlile was working within an arena deliberately reshaped to fit the occasion.

— Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of deliberately

Adverb

These fish can’t really be classified as invasive, however, because the state purposely stocked the South American imports in the early 1980s for two reasons.

— Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026
The museum in the book is a purposely generic version of a recognizable major art museum like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of purposely

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knowing

knowingly

knowingness

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“Knowingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knowingly. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of knowingly

adverb

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