MOSTLY Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

mostly

adverb

ˈmōst-lē

Definition of mostly

as in mainly

for the most part the weather this month has been mostly mild

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of mostly Quang estimates that about 20% of her customers tip and mostly for dinner service. — CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2026 The Black/Limelight/Black sneaker features a mostly black design that’s contrasted by gray TPU caging and accents. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2026 For more than a century, the electricity grid has mostly worked in one direction. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026 The land was mostly vacant — virtually a blank slate between State and Clark streets stretching from Polk to 15th Street. — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mostly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mostly

Adverb

The actor and director mainly need to provide continuity and variety.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
This phase is notable mainly for the emergence of early algae, fungi, and invertebrate animals toward its end.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of mainly

Adverb

According to court records, the money obtained was allegedly transferred to various individuals and businesses, primarily Annas 4 Contracting, LLC, and New Life Painters, LLC.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026
Cook quickly in a large cast-iron skillet, on a flat-top plancha, or on a grill, primarily on one side while leaving the wax paper on the opposite side.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of primarily

Adverb

The costs have been driven up chiefly by efforts to modernize pricing.

— MICHAEL PHILLIS, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
The state has been using those surpluses chiefly to build reserves and reduce the state’s hefty pension debt, which still exceeds $30 billion.

— Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of chiefly

Adverb

Though largely peaceful, the protests have added to an already monthlong political crisis following a deadlock of over 19 months that has blocked the election of a president and led to two early elections.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
The cost of building a turbine has climbed between 30% to 40% since 2020, largely because of the price of raw materials.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of largely

Adverb

Santa Maria, a predominantly Latino city on California’s Central Coast, is about 30 minutes south of San Luis Obispo.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Expulsion is currently banned within Head Start, which serves nearly 700,000 predominantly low-income kids.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of predominantly

Adverb

Treasury officials said the network operates principally from Mexico and Venezuela and has become an important source of revenue for Tren de Aragua, which the United States designated a foreign terrorist organization last year.

— Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026
When Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan agreed to a mutual defense pact in August, it was principally seen as a political commitment.

— John Calabrese, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of principally

Adverb

For the purposes of the war at hand, the photo is, basically, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Much like Whitford back in the late 1980s, Blyth is realizing that Kaffee basically never gets to leave the stage.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of basically

Adverb

Auditors reported there was no explicit language in the Controller Office’s telework policy that required employees generally conduct telework from California.

— Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
The ⁠Paris police said the clashes there had come about when some 300 people attempted to face off against security forces, adding that the protest was generally unfolding well elsewhere.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of generally

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most

mostly

mosts

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“Mostly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mostly. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mostly

adverb

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