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as in soft
tolerant and kind in the judgment of and expectations for others despite her easy approach to discipline, she had a remarkably well-behaved class

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

easy

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adverb

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an easy task
a simple task
an effortless task
a trivial task
easy reading
simple reading
quick reading
light reading
effortless reading
basic reading
an easy installation
a simple installation
an uncomplicated installation
an effortless installation
a foolproof installation
a quick installation

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective easy contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of easy are effortless, facile, light, simple, and smooth. While all these words mean "not demanding effort or involving difficulty," easy is applicable either to persons or things imposing tasks or to activity required by such tasks.

an easy college course

When is effortless a more appropriate choice than easy?

Although the words effortless and easy have much in common, effortless stresses the appearance of ease and usually implies the prior attainment of artistry or expertness.

moving with effortless grace

How do facile and easy relate to one another?

Facile often adds to easy the connotation of undue haste or shallowness.

facile answers to complex questions

In what contexts can light take the place of easy?

The meanings of light and easy largely overlap; however, light stresses freedom from what is burdensome.

a light teaching load

When might simple be a better fit than easy?

The synonyms simple and easy are sometimes interchangeable, but simple stresses ease in understanding or dealing with because complication is absent.

a simple problem in arithmetic

When is it sensible to use smooth instead of easy?

In some situations, the words smooth and easy are roughly equivalent. However, smooth stresses the absence or removal of all difficulties, hardships, or obstacles.

a smooth ride

Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of easy
Adjective
Make winter maintenance easier by learning how to start a snow blower. Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2024 First, stuffing the umbrella back into the water bottle-esque plastic case isn't as easy as the company suggests. Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2024
Adverb
Getting paid on the same schedule as our bills (monthly!), makes retirement planning easy. Brett Owens, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 What makes packing for Maui so easy is not needing to make room for heavy clothes. Lois Alter Mark, Travel + Leisure, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for easy 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for easy
Adjective
  • Or that a different definition will make a theory simpler.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 18 Nov. 2024
  • If peace has always been but a simple voluntary choice, the price of human imperfection has been paid in the coin of perpetual war.
    Henry A. Kissinger, Foreign Affairs, 18 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The panther population was mostly decimated by hunting, according to the National Wildlife Federation, and remains susceptible to low genetic diversity, illnesses and habitat loss.
    Kerry Breen, CBS News, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Some years, of course, are more susceptible to genuine feelings of thanksgiving than others.
    Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The outer silicone shell is soft and comfortable, with pull tabs for easy removal and adjustment.
    Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
  • Save big on the lightweight and comfortable Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, which offer 24 hours of listening time on a single charge.
    Averi Baudler, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • When the foam subsides, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes.
    Farideh Sadeghin, Saveur, 29 Nov. 2024
  • To counter this, brighten your face with a soft fill light, even during the day, to avoid looking gloomy.
    Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
Adverb
  • Colors with shorter wavelengths, such as blues and violets, scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, which include red and orange.
    John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 22 Nov. 2024
  • In keeping with the theme of this column, every class of Nacogdoches, local or visiting, blended easily in this friendly oasis.
    Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • But behind every slick interface and smooth user experience lies a critical, often unseen process: Software Testing.
    Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2024
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, milk, apple cider, cream, vanilla, and salt, mixing until everything is smooth and combined, about 1 minute.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Our tester has narrow feet yet reported that the shoes had a snug fit and narrow toe box that could cause pinching for wider feet.
    Avery Stone, People.com, 27 Nov. 2024
  • The stretchy fabric ensures a snug and flattering fit, while the snap closure at the crotch allows for easy wear.
    Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Additionally, are not deductible as charitable contributions on Schedule A.
    James Brewer, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • As my colleague Rachel M. Cohen reported, acts of service for family, friends, and neighbors are typically not counted as volunteering, and opening your home to relatives or sending remittances to them is not counted as charitable giving.
    Sigal Samuel, Vox, 18 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near easy

Cite this Entry

“Easy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/easy. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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