Definition of
softly has definitions from the field of music
1
[ adverb ] with low volume

Synonyms

quietly

Examples

"speak softly but carry a big stick" "she spoke quietly to the child" "the radio was playing softly"

Used in print

(David Boroff, "Jewish Teen-Age Culture"...)

And the rebellion of these third generation Jews is not the traditional conflict of culture but , rather , a protest against a culture that they view_as softly and insidiously enveloping .

(George Harmon Coxe, Error of Judgement....)

He put the basket down distastefully , muttering softly and thoroughly disgusted with himself and his plan that had seemed so foolproof .

(Morley Callaghan, A Passion in Rome....)

When they walked into the Ferraro apartment , the old lady , bowing and smiling , said softly .

Related terms

loudly soft soft

2
[ adverb ] in a manner that is pleasing to the senses

Examples

"she smiled softly"

Used in print

(George Harmon Coxe, Error of Judgement....)

The girl 's eyes were softly shining as she reached_out and touched Casey 's hand .

(Richard S. Prather, "The Bawdy Beautiful," Cavalier...)

Softly .

3
[ adverb ] with little weight or force

Synonyms

gently lightly

Examples

"she kissed him lightly on the forehead"

Used in print

(Bruce Palmer, "My Brother's Keeper", Many Are...)

The man wheezed weakly , his fetid breath beating softly against Watson 's neck .

Related terms

easy easy

4
[ adverb ] (music) used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly

Synonyms

piano

Related terms

forte piano piano

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Rhymes with

awfully safely flea flee slightly stoutly tightly swiftly shortly costly stiffly attlee roughly unsightly sprightly deftly aptly portly costly ghastly smartly flatly vastly lastly knightly nightly rightly lightly motley courtly justly mercifully persistently decently recently complacently implicitly magnificently robustly explicitly consistently instantly insistently constantly innocently incessantly hotly imperfectly stately sweetly saintly dishonestly partly brightly powerfully wonderfully inadvertently blatantly patently modestly perfectly intermittently promptly hesitantly unjustly incompetently competently desperately beautifully hartley honestly earnestly astutely chiefly impatiently proportionately passionately patiently affectionately efficiently disproportionately compassionately sufficiently resolutely insufficiently bluntly inefficiently dispassionately approximately nonchalantly abruptly importantly imprudently fortnightly separately elaborately fervently tacitly stridently prudently deliberately triumphantly illicitly reluctantly expertly exultantly evidently manifestly steadfastly confidently politely pleasantly transparently silently coherently fluently flamboyantly defiantly violently apparently concurrently devoutly covertly unpleasantly inherently vehemently privately incoherently presently briefly inaccurately inadequately inappropriately predominantly immaculately imminently vehemently ultimately ghostly permanently fraudulently forthrightly obediently significantly firstly faintly accurately extravagantly adequately adamantly exactly eminently excellently elegantly mostly virulently alternately delicately reverently legitimately definitely resolutely violently intimately intricately arrogantly inordinately infinitely prominently indiscriminately indefinitely immediately separately moderately minutely abundantly deliberately ardently currently quietly strictly independently priestly priestley overtly neatly medfly curtly lately wheatley cheerfully absolutely urgently discreetly distinctly succinctly poignantly fortunately frequently flagrantly

Phonetic and Homophones

S AO1 F T L IY0
S AO1 F L IY0

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