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Purely vs Simply - What's the difference?

purely | simply | Synonyms |

As adverbs the difference between purely and simply

is that purely is wholly; really, completely while simply is in a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.

purely

English

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • * 1962 , , Flush Times :
  • I am fascinated by the entire scene, I purely am.
  • Solely; exclusively; merely, simply.
  • * 2005 , Owen Bowcott, The Guardian , 8 Apr 2005:
  • The IRA should "lead by example" and "unilaterally" abandon paramilitary violence and adopt a purely political strategy, a leading Sinn Féin MP urged yesterday.
  • * 2007 , ‘(Helen Brooks)’, His Christmas Bride :
  • *:"But this meal tonight is not a date, not in the traditional sense. It's purely platonic, I assure you."
  • Chastely, innocently; in a sinless manner, without fault.
  • * 1623 , (William Shakespeare), Troilus and Cressida , First Folio, IV.7:
  • faith and troth, / Strain'd purely from all hollow bias drawing: / Bids thee with most diuine integritie, / From heart of very heart, great Hector welcome.
  • * 1823 , (Samuel Taylor Coleridge), Table Talk :
  • By some means or other the water flows purely , and separated from the filth, in a deeper and narrower course on one side of the rock, and the refuse of the dirt and troubled water goes off on the other in a broader current [...].
    English manner adverbs English degree adverbs English focus adverbs

    simply

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (manner) In a simple way or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; alone.
  • (manner) Plainly; without art or subtlety; clearly; obviously; unquestionably.
  • (manner) Weakly; foolishly; stupidly.
  • (Johnson)
  • (focus) Merely; solely.
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838
  • , page=13 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist) , title= Ideas coming down the track , passage=A “moving platform” scheme
  • (degree) absolutely, positively.
  • (speech act) Frankly.
  • Antonyms

    * complexly