deliberately

adverb

de·​lib·​er·​ate·​ly di-ˈli-bə-rət-lē How to pronounce deliberately (audio)
-ˈlib-rət-
: in a deliberate manner: such as
a
: with full awareness of what one is doing : in a way that is intended or planned
trying deliberately to mislead us
a deliberately harsh review
It's very clear, however, that organizations funded in part by the fossil fuel industry have deliberately tried to undermine the public's understanding of the scientific consensus by promoting a few skeptics.Joel Achenbach
b
: in a way that is not hurried : slowly and carefully
speaking clearly and deliberately
He moves deliberately, almost cautiously, and he speaks with the assurance of someone who is accustomed to being listened to.Alec Wilkinson

Examples of deliberately in a Sentence

deliberately chose to break the rules
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.
Each of the show's four episodes, which premiered on Netflix on March 13, were filmed in a single shot, making for a harrowing and deliberately tense experience for the viewer. Jessica Sager, People.com, 14 Mar. 2025 The breakfast nook is deliberately cozy, cast in natural light. John Ortved, Architectural Digest, 14 Mar. 2025 In recent weeks, President Trump and Elon Musk have repeatedly claimed that Wilmore and Williams were deliberately stranded at the station by the Biden administration. Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025 The retrieval has become a political hot topic because Musk and Trump have accused the Biden administration of deliberately leaving the astronauts behind. Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deliberately

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deliberately was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Deliberately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deliberately. Accessed 17 Mar. 2025.

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