LIGHTLY Synonyms: 55 Similar and Opposite Words

lightly

adverb

ˈlīt-lē

Definition of lightly

as in easily

without difficulty you're not going to get off lightly if they catch you!

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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 lightly Jacob Fowler, who made 20 saves, was lightly tested the rest of the game despite five Chicago power plays, and needed to make only three saves in the final period. — ABC News, 23 Oct. 2026 Working very quickly and using a pair of kitchen shears lightly coated in vegetable oil, cut an X in center of bread. — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026 Such maneuvers use a lot of fuel and are therefore not performed lightly. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Perry notes that clove offers warm, sugary and lightly bitter flavors that meld seamlessly into the cup. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lightly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightly

Adverb

But every year, millions end up in a landfill after a single use, and many are made from synthetic plastics that don't easily break down, contributing to environmental pollution.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
What concerns me is how easily people could let their guard down.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of easily

Adverb

Making the comeback last Adapting to shoppers has not always gone smoothly.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
And so far, things seem to be operating smoothly — something local residents have grown to expect, given the high caliber of local elections officials and the careful oversight of political parties.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of smoothly

Adverb

This cardigan matching set makes getting dressed for a travel day ridiculously easy, with a cropped cardigan and coordinating bottoms that didn’t require much thought.

— Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2026
Exactly two hours of solid Nashville songcraft, well-performed… in a vein where actual, definable country sounds predominate, but with just enough pop tinge to go down easy with the west coast palate… What is wrong with this picture?

— Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of easy

Adverb

Every team’s games will stream locally, with many franchises also airing contests on freely available over-the-air broadcast stations.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2026
The business terms, which were originally supposed to go into effect on October 30th, appeared to give Meta permission to freely scrape the new sites that use its platforms, while using the material for AI training.

— Emma Roth, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of freely

Adverb

Flexibility is key to the design; almost half of the building is devoted to a multipurpose space that can be readily subdivided into two identically sized spaces.

— Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Then came Fuller’s abrupt departure, a writers strike, and a showrunner shuffle, all of which seem to have contributed to an identity crisis that’s readily apparent in the current version of Crystal Lake.

— Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of readily

Browse Nearby Words

lightless

lightly

light-minded

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“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightly. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lightly

adverb

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