adv
mercifully
MUR-sihf-lee
adv
1
In a way that shows mercy or kindness.
"She treated the prisoners mercifully, despite what they had done."
2
Used to say something turned out better than it might have — luckily, thankfully.
"Mercifully, the storm passed before it could do any real damage."
How to Use Mercifully
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "in a kind, forgiving way" or, more commonly today, "thankfully."
Common pairings
mercifully brief
mercifully, the rain stopped
Word Forms
more mercifully comparative, most mercifully superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “mercifully”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She treated the prisoners _____, despite what they had done.