Synonyms for Barely
Definition of barely
- adverb
- only a very short time before; "they could barely hear the speaker"; "we hardly knew them"; "just missed being hit"; "had scarcely rung the bell when the door flew open"; "would have scarce arrived before she would have found some excuse to leave"- W.B.Yeats
- in a sparse or scanty way; "a barely furnished room"
5 synonyms found
Writing tips for "barely"
Choosing the right synonym depends on context, tone, and audience. Words like hardly, just, scantily can replace "barely" depending on the shade of meaning you need. In poetry and songwriting, swapping synonyms lets you match a rhyme scheme or meter without changing your meaning. In prose, varying your word choice avoids repetition and keeps readers engaged.
With 5 alternatives available, "barely" gives you flexibility across registers — from formal to casual, from literary to conversational. Try pairing these synonyms with our rhyme finder to discover words that both mean and sound like what you need.
"Barely" in song lyrics
See how barely is used in real songs:
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"We meet daily, we sleep rarely, we bend barely"
Aceyalone — Art Club -
"When a dust mite harbored spite it barely"
Aesop Rock — Appleseed Intro -
"Gas for Huntington and back, barely"
Aesop Rock — Catacomb Kids