necessarily

adverb

nec·​es·​sar·​i·​ly ˌne-sə-ˈser-ə-lē How to pronounce necessarily (audio)
Synonyms of necessarilynext
1
: of necessity : unavoidably
The audience was necessarily small.
This endeavor necessarily involves some risk.
2
: as a logical result or consequence
… a holocaust is a disaster, but a disaster is not necessarily a holocaust.—Harry Shaw

Synonyms of necessarily

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Examples of necessarily in a Sentence

the argument that the existence of the universe necessarily implies the existence of an all-powerful being responsible for creating it
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Courts have become the fallback mechanism, but litigation is slow and necessarily built on harms that have already occurred. — Ryan McBain, STAT, 2 July 2026 This is based on a canard – that allowing ballots to be counted after Election Day necessarily triggers rampant fraud. — John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 1 July 2026 And so, offering cheap options, albeit with large deductibles and possible coverage gaps, is a way to address affordability without necessarily undermining the law. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Individually, none of these traits are necessarily suspicious. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for necessarily

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of necessarily was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing necessarily

Rhymes for necessarily

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Browse Nearby Words

necessarianism
necessarily
necessariness
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Cite this Entry

“Necessarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/necessarily. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on necessarily

Nglish: Translation of necessarily for Spanish Speakers

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