What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Merely vs Solely - What's the difference?

merely | solely |

As adverbs the difference between merely and solely

is that merely is wholly, entirely while solely is alone; exclusively.

merely

English

Adverb

(-)
  • (obsolete) Wholly, entirely.
  • * 1644 , (John Milton), Aeropagitica :
    • It is not forgot, since the acute and distinct Arminius'' was perverted meerly by the perusing of a namelesse discourse writt'n at ''Delf , which at first he took in hand to confute.
  • (focus) Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more.

    • Statistics

    *

    solely

    English

    Adverb

    (-)
  • Alone; exclusively.
    • The new chef was solely responsible for attending the grill.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2012, date=November 20, author=Nina Bernstein, title=Storm Bared a Lack of Options for the Homeless in New York, work=New York Times citation
    • , passage=This week, officials closed all evacuation centers but two on Staten Island. Now they plan to rely solely on hotels, even as they brace for a new wave of people displaced from storm-damaged housing where they are facing winter without heat or hot water.}}