mercifully

adverb

mer·​ci·​ful·​ly ˈmər-si-f(ə-)lē How to pronounce mercifully (audio)
1
: in a merciful manner
2
: fortunately sense 2
mercifully we didn't have to attend the meeting

Examples of mercifully in a Sentence

His crimes have been dealt with mercifully. Mercifully, the professor always makes our tests easy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The basic 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro still starts at $1,599, but that model now (mercifully) starts with 16GB of RAM instead of just 8GB. Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2024 Both experiments have been proposed, although mercifully not performed, overt cruelty and gruesomeness having mostly faded from favor in academic circles. Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024 Catherine lays down for a nap next to Nicholas, who is mercifully okay despite her neglect. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024 On Xbox, graphics occasionally render slowly in transitions from set pieces to live action; while mercifully rare, enemies can glitch between spaces with super speed. Matt Gardner, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mercifully 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mercifully was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near mercifully

Cite this Entry

“Mercifully.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mercifully. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on mercifully

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!