Definitions and Examples of slightly, hardly, barely
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To a small degree; somewhat.
Example
She was slightly nervous before her presentation, but she managed to deliver it well.
Almost not; barely; scarcely.
Example
He hardly slept last night because he had to finish his project.
Only just; almost not.
Example
She barely passed her driving test, but she was still happy to have passed.
Key Differences: slightly vs hardly vs barely
- 1Slightly is a mild antonym that conveys a small degree or amount.
- 2Hardly and barely are complementary antonyms that convey almost no degree or amount.
- 3Hardly is often used with negative verbs, while barely is used with positive verbs.
Effective Usage of slightly, hardly, barely
- 1Express Degrees: Use these antonyms to express different degrees of intensity.
- 2Negate Statements: Use hardly and barely to negate statements and express the opposite meaning.
- 3Clarify Meanings: Use slightly to clarify the degree or amount of something.
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Remember this!
The antonyms of highly have distinct nuances. Slightly conveys a small degree, while hardly and barely convey almost no degree. Use these antonyms to express different degrees of intensity, negate statements, and clarify meanings.
