as in easily
without difficulty
you're not going to get off lightly if they catch you!
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lightly
The burgers are pressed, seared and served on buns that are lightly buttered.
—
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 June 2025
Sprinkle the remaining panko on top and season lightly with a little more salt.
5: Bake the meatloaf until the panko on top is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees, 65 to 75 minutes.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
Twenty years ago a little and lightly regarded team stunned hockey by skating all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, and only three times since has that same franchise reached the playoffs again — not once getting past the first round.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
Deliver at All Costs features spectacularly destructible environments, a pleasant soundtrack of easy jazz and surfer music, and a lightly entertaining story about persevering in a tough working environment.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 4 June 2025
Sprinkle the remaining panko on top and season lightly with a little more salt.
5: Bake the meatloaf until the panko on top is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 155 degrees, 65 to 75 minutes.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
Twenty years ago a little and lightly regarded team stunned hockey by skating all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals, and only three times since has that same franchise reached the playoffs again — not once getting past the first round.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
Deliver at All Costs features spectacularly destructible environments, a pleasant soundtrack of easy jazz and surfer music, and a lightly entertaining story about persevering in a tough working environment.
—The New York Times, New York Times, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lightly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightly
Adverb
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Soto easily scored from second and Alonso’s headfirst slide barely got him in before Hunter Goodman’s tag at the plate.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
7 June 2025
-
Butterfly Farm and downtown Oranjestad are also easily accessible.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
7 June 2025
Adverb
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Ghosting a nun would definitely be a sin, though, so Miranda met her in person and let her down easy.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
29 May 2025
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These sailings often include multiday land extensions, making visiting world-famous sites like Angkor Wat easy without managing your own logistics.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
20 May 2025
Adverb
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From there, Donald freely picks the other six members of the group.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
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Today’s agents don’t have to move freely under deep cover to do damage.—
Barbara Spindel,
Christian Science Monitor,
29 May 2025
Adverb
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This will be a win for taxpayers as these economies help the state government address its structural deficit and more efficiently allocate scarce income and assets.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
6 June 2025
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Fat Distribution Changes With aging, adipose (fat) tissue loses its ability to efficiently store and release energy.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
6 June 2025
Adverb
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This could require expansion of the nation’s digital infrastructure as AI demands an enormous amount of affordable, reliable and readily available energy.—
Martin Hermann,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Pop music is played readily, but anything that is even remotely challenging — at least in alternative rock — doesn’t really [get played].—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightly. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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