Merely Sentences
"Merely" is an adverb meaning "only" or "simply," suggesting that something is not significant or important. e.g., He was not upset; he was merely surprised.
How to use Merely in a sentence
Table of Contents
Merely Sentences
It's not a mystery; it's merely unexplained.
I'm not scared; I'm merely cautious.
She was not being brave; she was merely doing what was right.
It's not a defeat; it's merely a learning opportunity.
It's not an ending; it's merely a pause.
It's not a crisis; it's merely a difficult situation.
He wasn't being cruel; he was merely being honest.
He's not a stranger; he's merely someone you haven't met yet.
It's not failure; it's merely an opportunity for growth.
It's not a fight; it's merely a debate.
The music wasn't loud; it was merely spirited.
I didn't mean to offend; I was merely being direct.
I'm not ignoring you; I'm merely deep in thought.
It's not a tragedy; it's merely a sad tale.
He was not being lazy; he was merely saving energy.
They're not arguing; they're merely exchanging ideas.
It wasn't a loss; it was merely a change in direction.
It's not an insult; it's merely a joke.
I'm not sad; I'm merely contemplative.
The cat wasn't hiding; it was merely playing a game.
She's not mad at you; she's merely expressing her feelings.
It was not a complete failure, merely a setback.
This is not an argument; it's merely a discussion.
It was not a gift, merely a loan.
He was not crying; he was merely sweating from his eyes.
The solution isn't complicated; it's merely intricate.
She's not avoiding you; she's merely giving you some space.
He didn't forget; he was merely distracted.
It's not a problem; it's merely a challenge.
It's not an invasion; it's merely a surprise visit.
The painting wasn't ugly; it was merely unusual.
It's not a lie; it's merely a different perspective.
It wasn't a mistake; it was merely an oversight.
It's not a difficult task; it's merely time-consuming.
She was not laughing at me; she was merely sharing a joke.
We are not losing; we are merely behind in the score.
It's not a party; it's merely a gathering of friends.
It was not a storm, merely a drizzle.
I'm not tired; I'm merely resting my eyes.
I didn't want to hurt you; I was merely stating my opinion.
The little bird was merely a silhouette against the bright morning sky.
She was merely a child when she learned to play the piano.
I'm not angry; I'm merely disappointed.
The book was not interesting; it was merely long.
I wasn't trying to escape; I was merely looking for a quiet place.
The dog wasn't barking at a stranger; it was merely chasing its tail.
The man wasn't old; he was merely experienced.
I'm not a hero; I'm merely doing my job.
She was not being rude; she was merely honest.
It's not a warning; it's merely a friendly reminder.
Merely Definitions
Simply: Merely means only or just.
He was merely a spectator, not a participant.
Exactly: Merely can signify nothing more than what is specified.
The painting was merely a copy.
Only: Merely refers to something and nothing more.
He is merely a child.
Solely: Merely can indicate exclusivity in an action or state.
She is merely interested in the profits.
Barely: Merely can suggest a minimal level or degree.
He could merely afford the rent.
Virtually: Merely might indicate something is almost but not completely something else.
The task was merely impossible.
Merely Idioms & Phrases
Merely a Needle in a Haystack
Denotes something very hard or impossible to find.
Finding the original document in this mess is like finding merely a needle in a haystack.
Merely a Piece of Cake
Used to describe something that's easy or simple.
The test was merely a piece of cake for someone as prepared as me.
Merely a Red Herring
Refers to misleading or distracting information.
The detective realized that the evidence was merely a red herring.
Merely a Storm in a Teacup
Refers to an overreaction or undue alarm about a trivial matter.
The disagreement between them was merely a storm in a teacup.
Merely Adding Fuel to the Fire
This means making a situation or conflict intensifies, especially by provocative comments.
By arguing with her, you're merely adding fuel to the fire.
Merely a Fly in the Ointment
Refers to a minor defect that spoils something valuable or is a annoyance.
The plan's only downside, or merely a fly in the ointment, was its cost.
Merely Breaking the Ice
Refers to initiating a conversation or process.
His jokes at the start of his speech were merely breaking the ice.
Merely Tip of the Iceberg
Indicates that what is visible or known about a situation is only a tiny part of the total.
The problems we have seen are merely the tip of the iceberg.
Merely a Walk in the Park
Refers to something very easy or effortless.
With all his training, the marathon was merely a walk in the park for him.
Merely a Wild Goose Chase
Suggests a futile pursuit or search.
Looking for that old book in this gigantic library could be merely a wild goose chase.
Merely a Stone’s Throw
Used to describe something very close or nearby.
The beach is merely a stone's throw away from our hotel.
Merely Beating Around the Bush
Refers to avoiding the main topic.
She was merely beating around the bush instead of addressing the issue directly.
Merely a Hairsbreadth Away
It signifies something very close to happening.
When the other party pulled out, we were merely a hairsbreadth away from signing the deal.
Merely a Drop in the Ocean
Signifies an inconsequentially small part of a much larger whole.
Her donation, while generous, was merely a drop in the ocean compared to the charity's overall fundraising goal.
Merely a Blessing in Disguise
Indicates an apparent misfortune that eventually has positive outcomes.
Losing that job was merely a blessing in disguise.
Merely a Storm in a Teacup
This indicates a lot of unnecessary anger and worry about a matter that is not important.
Their argument is merely a storm in a teacup.
Merely Barking Up the Wrong Tree
Suggests pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action.
If you think I'm the one who took your laptop, you're merely barking up the wrong tree.
Merely a Shot in the Dark
Implies a random guess without any real expectation of success.
My last answer on the quiz was merely a shot in the dark.
Merely a Flash in the Pan
Signifies a one-time event or phenomenon that's not likely to be repeated.
His previous victory was merely a flash in the pan.
Merely the Ball is in Your Court
Suggests the responsibility for action or decision now rests with someone else.
I've done all I can do; now, merely the ball is in your court.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of Merely?
The pronunciation of Merely is /ˈmɪrli/.
How many syllables are in Merely?
There are two syllables in Merely : mere-ly
What is the root word of Merely?
The root word of Merely is the Old English word "Mere," which means pure or undiluted.
Is Merely a negative or positive word?
Merely is a neutral word; it's neither negative nor positive.
Is Merely term a metaphor?
No, Merely itself is not a metaphor. It's an adverb used to emphasize how small, unimportant, or basic something is.
Which vowel is used before Merely?
As Merely is typically used as an adverb, the vowel used before it depends on the word it modifies. For example, in "They were merely observers", "e" is the vowel before Merely.
Is Merely an adverb?
Yes, Merely is an adverb.
What part of speech is Merely?
Merely is an adverb.
Why is it called Merely?
The term "Merely" originates from the Old English word "Mere," meaning 'pure, undiluted.' Over time, it evolved into "Merely," which is used to emphasize the insignificance or basic nature of something.
Is a Merely a noun or adjective?
Merely is an adverb, not a noun or an adjective.
What is another term for Merely?
Another term for Merely could be simply, only, just.
What is the opposite of Merely?
The opposite of Merely could be significantly, importantly, or substantially.
Is a Merely an abstract noun?
No, Merely is not an abstract noun. It's an adverb.
Is a Merely a countable noun?
No, Merely is not a countable noun. It's an adverb.
What is the verb form of Merely?
Merely is an adverb, not a verb, so it doesn't have a verb form.
Which determiner is used with Merely?
Determiners are not typically used with the adverb Merely, as it modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Is the Merely a vowel or consonant?
Merely is a word, not a single letter. However, it contains both vowels (e) and consonants (m, r, l, y).
Is Merely a collective noun?
No, Merely is not a collective noun. It's an adverb.
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