adv

mercifully

MUR-sihf-lee

Mercifully (adv) means In a way that shows mercy or kindness. Example: “She treated the prisoners mercifully, despite what they had done.”

adv

In a way that shows mercy or kindness.

"She treated the prisoners mercifully, despite what they had done."

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 notes

In 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

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She treated the prisoners _____, despite what they had done.

Rhymes for mercifully

gully fully sully bully cully Tully Scully awfully joyfully lawfully woefully hopefully

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mercifully” mean?

The word “mercifully” means in a way that shows mercy or kindness. In plain terms, either "in a kind, forgiving way" or, more commonly today, "thankfully.".

How do you pronounce “mercifully”?

“Mercifully” is pronounced MUR-sihf-lee (/ˈmɝ.sɪf.(ə.)li/ in IPA).

How do you use “mercifully” in a sentence?

Here is “mercifully” used in a sentence: “She treated the prisoners mercifully, despite what they had done.”

What part of speech is “mercifully”?

“Mercifully” is an adverb.

How many meanings does “mercifully” have?

“Mercifully” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a way that shows mercy or kindness.