NEARLY Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

nearly

adverb

ˈnir-lē

Definition of nearly

as in closely

to a close degree copy that design as nearly as you can

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

closely
near

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in almost

very close to but not completely I nearly fell down the stairs

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 nearly As the male assassin finds her and nearly drowns her in a lake, River catches up to the scene in time to save her, and the episode shifts to accommodate the romantic chemistry that’s been simmering between them since the series premiere. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 Now, nearly 90 years later, one of aviation’s greatest mysteries might be solved. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 14 Oct. 2026 Levels of the chemical absorbed into the skin were nearly undetectable, the studies found. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Vogue’s Guide to Styling Leather Jackets $1,610 These days, there’s a leather jacket for nearly every mood. — Christina Holevas, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nearly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nearly

Adverb

With the company expected to deploy tons of cash toward expanding Muse, investors will be closely watching its capital expenditure plans.

— Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
With public safety power shutoffs underway across much of the region, fire crews are closely monitoring the situation, warning that even small grass fires can quickly spread under dangerous fire conditions.

— Kayla Moeller, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of closely

Adverb

There’s plenty of other awful things happening in the episode, almost all of them revolving around Sai.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
Genetic comparisons revealed that deep-sea viral communities in the region are almost entirely unique, with just 4 percent of their protein clusters matching global databases.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of almost

Adverb

Remember the old Popeye and spinach routine, where the squinty-eyed sailor scarfs down a can of leafy greens and his muscles practically burst out of his shirt?

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 15 Oct. 2026
The chase for a third consecutive World Series championship is historically and essentially and practically kaput.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of practically

Browse Nearby Words

nearing

nearly

near miss

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nearly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearly. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of nearly

adverb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

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