MOSTLY Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

mostly

adverb

ˈmōst-lē

Definition of mostly

as in mainly

for the most part the weather this month has been mostly mild

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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 mostly According to an analysis of federal data by the health policy research organization KFF, the 193 counties that will have zero Medicare Advantage plans are mostly rural. — Emily Pisacreta, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026 The answer is mostly yes, especially now that the highest trim level brings some serious Harman Kardon punch. — New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026 The protesters, mostly young and dressed in black congregated in front of police lines leading to Place de la Nation, where the organizers had originally intended to end the march. — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Volkov is mostly a striker who owns a 40-11-0 record for his career, with most of his wins coming via TKO. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mostly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mostly

Adverb

The decor is retro-futuristic, mainly white but for the dark wood paneling on one wall and the ceiling.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Such liabilities have been growing across the entire AI trade, mainly in the form of lease obligations.

— Kif Leswing,Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of mainly

Adverb

More missiles, many more options This would significantly expand the ship’s ability to protect an entire naval task group, rather than primarily concentrating on defending itself and nearby assets.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
Helium is primarily produced as a byproduct of natural gas processing.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of primarily

Adverb

Billionaires have poured hundreds of millions into super political action committees (super PACs) for campaign ads—chiefly supporting Republican candidates in tight Senate races.

— Connor Greene, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
Long before launch, the team faced obstacles that nearly thwarted the endeavor — chiefly, two rejections from NASA — before finally securing the green light for the $1 billion project under the New Frontiers Program in 2011.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of chiefly

Adverb

But the one question that has come up time and again -- what to do with drivers whose jobs would be eliminated -- remains largely unanswered.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
That is enough for engineering, because engineering is largely a text-generation problem.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

Brazil’s predominantly left-leaning film industry and its international counterpart have not stood on the sidelines.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 26 Oct. 2026
During his stint as president from 2006 to 2010, the company sold predominantly $200 and $300 jeans to affluent department-store shoppers with household incomes around $250,000.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of predominantly

Adverb

Both the founders had worked at other New York galleries, Klein principally with Bertrand Delacroix and Massey at Mulherin and Pollard.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
At the beginning of this century, Andermatt was a quiet settlement in the Ursern Valley, known principally to committed skiers, mountaineers and the Swiss military.

— Nick Scott, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of principally

Adverb

These are basically less privileged neighborhoods where the government is meant to show a greater focus on education by employing more teachers and so on.

— Elektra Kotsoni, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Brody and Chang have seen them all (basically), and have some guiding thoughts to share, below.

— Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of basically

Adverb

Outgoing ranking members Angie Craig of Minnesota and Nydia Velázquez of New York are also behind, though retiring members and frontliners generally don’t pay dues in full.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Southern accented candidates are generally heard as more conservative than those without a Southern accent, particularly to Democratic listeners.

— Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of generally

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

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Synonyms of mostly

adverb

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