as in slightly
by a very small margin
we barely made it to the church on time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 barely
The whole thing was just barely held together by bailing wire, duct tape and Band-Aids.
—
Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
In an exclusive video shared with PEOPLE, Hailey can be seen posing in a barely there red look in front of a mirror.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Of course Lionsgate, the company putting this film out, wanted to bury the lede in the promotional material (even the poster barely hints at the political aspect).
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2026
The Mavericks game was tied at 107 when Markkanen scored the layup while Davis could barely defend him.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for barely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for barely
Adverb
-
One slightly wrong rate in a budget, procurement forecast, or loan estimate easily moves millions of dollars in the wrong direction.—
-
Pale pink flower clusters that appear on the light green foliage in summer, slightly earlier than other sedum varieties.—
Adverb
-
Residents near the park, located off David Drive in the Bonnie Brae neighborhood, said they were awakened just before midnight by gunfire and emergency sirens.—
-
Designed to bridge the gap between automotive ease and aerospace innovation, the vehicle targets consumers looking for adventure rather than just urban commuting.—
Adverb
-
The bill narrowly failed in the Senate.—
-
Dash camera video captured the teen speeding away from the traffic stop and narrowly missing a deputy standing in the road.—
Adverb
-
Storing Sliced Fruit Sliced persimmons are hardly hardy, lasting about three days.—
-
The Heat hardly were that on Saturday night, their deficit reaching 29, closing at 4 of 30 on 3-pointers, committing 19 turnovers.—
Cite this Entry
“Barely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/barely. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share