superlative merest
1
: being nothing more than
a mere mortal
a mere hint of spice
2
: having no admixture (see admixture sense 2) : pure
3
obsolete
: being nothing less than : absolute
chiefly British
: an expanse of standing (see standing entry 1 sense 2) water : lake, pool
had seen several boats on an inland mere—
Yale Review
Yale Review
: part : segment
metamere
Synonyms
Examples of mere in a Sentence
Adjective
the mere idea of your traveling alone to Europe is ridiculous
Noun (1)
one of the most scenic meres in England's Lake District
Recent Examples on the Web
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
If this angle of attack fails, populists seek to degrade the military’s standing and legitimacy by launching political attacks on senior officers, portraying them as incompetent or as mere politicians in uniform.
—Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
In a mere century, electricity has changed almost every human activity.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
Over the last 14 years, Pershing’s investment produced a 35% total return, or a mere 2.2% compound annual return, Ackman said.
—John Melloy,yun Li, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2025
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Adjective
Ecosystem orchestration transcends mere automation, fostering a self-sustaining, innovation-centric environment where the platform evolves as a strategic growth multiplier.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
If this angle of attack fails, populists seek to degrade the military’s standing and legitimacy by launching political attacks on senior officers, portraying them as incompetent or as mere politicians in uniform.
—Ronald R. Krebs, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
In a mere century, electricity has changed almost every human activity.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
Over the last 14 years, Pershing’s investment produced a 35% total return, or a mere 2.2% compound annual return, Ackman said.
—John Melloy,yun Li, CNBC, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for mere
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Dictionary Entries Near mere
Cite this Entry
“Mere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mere. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mere
2 of 2 adjective
superlative merest
: being only this and nothing else : nothing more than
a mere whisper
a mere child
merely
adverb
Etymology
Noun
Old English mere "lake, pool"
Adjective
Middle English mere "nothing more or less than," from Latin merus "pure"
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