1
as in only
for nothing other than
I fight solely for my country, not for money!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in independently
without aid or support
you undertook that project solely on your own, and you will finish it likewise
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of solely
In Kinshasa, Congolese leaders believe that Rwanda’s continued interference in eastern Congo is driven solely by a desire to steal minerals.
—
Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
The current law dictating Connecticut’s immigration enforcement policy, known as the Trust Act, prohibits local and state law enforcement from arresting someone solely on the basis of a detainer — a request from ICE that police hold a person for up to 48 hours so federal agents can pick them up.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 20 Mar. 2025
Brake-by-wire solely, the system uses the pedal input to tell the chips which mix of friction and regenerative braking is best.
—New Atlas, 19 Mar. 2025
Returning to a solely home console or handheld game system would be baffling (though handheld- or console-only variants like the Nintendo Switch Lite aren't out of the question as alternative models).
—Will Greenwald, PCMAG, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for solely
Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
The current law dictating Connecticut’s immigration enforcement policy, known as the Trust Act, prohibits local and state law enforcement from arresting someone solely on the basis of a detainer — a request from ICE that police hold a person for up to 48 hours so federal agents can pick them up.
—Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 20 Mar. 2025
Brake-by-wire solely, the system uses the pedal input to tell the chips which mix of friction and regenerative braking is best.
—New Atlas, 19 Mar. 2025
Returning to a solely home console or handheld game system would be baffling (though handheld- or console-only variants like the Nintendo Switch Lite aren't out of the question as alternative models).
—Will Greenwald, PCMAG, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for solely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for solely
Adverb
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Sadly, the use of Early Decision and Early Action plans has only increased in the subsequent year with some colleges enrolling more than 50% of their class this way.—
Brennan Barnard,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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Over the last five games, LaVine has averaged 16.6 points while attempting only 9.8 shots per game.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
22 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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The New Zealander wants to make grand prix sailing commercially viable, to drag it from being almost purely reliant on the patronage of wealthy individuals to being able to wash its own face.—
Andrew Rice,
The Athletic,
21 Mar. 2025
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The blast does actual damage, not purely disorienting enemies.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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In today’s dynamic and interconnected world, technical skills alone are no longer enough to propel your career forward.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
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For context, a tummy tuck alone in the U.S. is about $8,000.—
Keydra Manns,
Essence,
20 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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Running exclusively locally would ensure data remains private, and a smaller environment should be easier to code for.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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Despite Chief Justice Warren formally writing the opinion to apply exclusively to education, its attack on segregation has—paradoxically—been most efficacious beyond that original context.—
Justin Driver,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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The recalled bottles were sold from Dec. 27, 2024 to Jan. 28, 2025 in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, the retailer and federal agency separately said.—
Kate Gibson,
CBS News,
14 Mar. 2025
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Khalil’s legal team has asked the judge to rule on the lawfulness of his detention and order his return to New York while his immigration matter separately plays out.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
12 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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Keep a daily running score or just play for a new score each day.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
16 Mar. 2025
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This followed the appearance of a tornado near Tuscaloosa just an hour earlier in the day.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
Adverb
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Some of these items are simply impossible to source within the US, the letter argued.—
Ramishah Maruf,
CNN,
13 Mar. 2025
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And while some would simply assume that defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s group was soft, the reality is the team had very little talent to work with because of a litany of injuries and underdeveloped depth.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Solely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solely. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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