SIMPLY Synonyms: 23 Similar and Opposite Words

simply

adverb

ˈsim-plē

Definition of simply

as in only

for nothing other than the scholarships are awarded simply on the basis of merit uninterested in food, she eats simply to keep alive

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in just

nothing more than it's simply smart to shop around before buying an item

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 simply The camera also supports troubleshooting and time-lapse recording, extending its usefulness beyond simply keeping an eye on a running print. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 The performance raises questions about whether Gamecocks exposed a weakness in the Panthers’ defense or simply presented a difficult matchup for a unit that had been dominant through the first part of the season. — Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026 Not the kind of empathy that simply allows someone to understand another person’s struggles, but the kind that compels them to do something about it. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 And in a seller’s market, many renters simply don’t have the option to vote with their feet. — Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for simply

Recent Examples of Synonyms for simply

Adverb

Brought to Spain, the Colombian prostitutes are required to work off a debt run up by not only the airfare but much more.

— John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Moncler was founded in 1952 in Monestier-de-Clermont, and the mountains are not only the brand’s physical birthplace, but are also symbolic of its goal to aim higher, Ruffini has often said.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of only

Adverb

The questions came after Zacharia made a brief debut to the media on Tuesday, taking just three questions from reporters after reading off a script.

— Michael Birnbaum The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 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 just

Adverb

Based purely on average revenue per user, a key metric for telecom companies, Jio's discount to Airtel seems justified, but Jio wants to be seen as a tech company and not just a utility player.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and other officials have ruled out the deployment of combat troops, stressing that the pact is purely defensive.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of purely

Adverb

Johan Enslin, an ARPA-E program director, envisions a grid in which power can be converted, directed and managed automatically—much like the way data are routed around the Internet—rather than merely stepped up or down.

— Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
If a chip were merely a sculpture, this chiselling would represent a considerable achievement.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of merely

Adverb

Rather than exclusively focusing on what’s wrong with our mental health, one approach is to develop skills, traits, and perspectives that can help us.

— Joan M. Cook, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
The measure specifically exempts pensions and most individual retirement accounts from the tax, with the exception of Roth IRA and other Roth-type accounts worth $10 million or more — a balance compiled almost exclusively by the 1%.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of exclusively

Browse Nearby Words

simplistic

simply

simps

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“Simply.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/simply. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of simply

adverb

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