What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
minimally
Example
She only ate minimally at the party. [minimally: adverb]
Example
The company was able to operate minimally during the pandemic. [minimally: adverb]
hardly
Example
He hardly spoke during the meeting. [hardly: adverb]
Example
The restaurant was hardly noticeable from the street. [hardly: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hardly is more commonly used than minimally in everyday language. Hardly is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while minimally is less common and typically used in more specific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between minimally and hardly?
Both minimally and hardly are considered formal words and are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing.