Skip to content

12+ Words that rhyme with barely

Barely is a 3-syllable word with 12 perfect rhymes. The most popular rhymes are squarely, fairly, rarely. Multi-syllable rhymes sound more sophisticated — they're a hallmark of skilled lyricists and create complex rhythmic patterns.

Definition of barely

adverb
  1. 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
  2. in a sparse or scanty way; "a barely furnished room"

1 syllable

2 syllables

3 syllables

4 syllables

Examples of "barely" in lyrics

See how barely is used at the end of a line in songs:

  • "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

What do these rhymes mean?

fairly
to a moderately sufficient extent or degree; "pretty big"; "pretty bad"; "jolly decent of him
rarely
not often; "we rarely met"
sparely
in a spare manner; "William held me longest with his recent bronzes sparely arranged at Waddington's galleries"
squarely
directly and without evasion; not roundabout; "to face a problem squarely
unfairly
in an unfair manner; "they dealt with him unfairly"; "their accusations hit below the belt"

Use "barely" in a verse

Ready to write? Generate rap lyrics using "barely" as your theme:

Generate a verse

Rhyming tips for songwriters

When using "barely" in your lyrics, consider mixing perfect rhymes with near rhymes (slant rhymes) for a more natural flow. Perfect rhymes like squarely, fairly, rarely create a satisfying resolution, while slant rhymes add variety and keep listeners engaged.

Since "barely" has 3 syllables, try matching it with words of similar length for a balanced meter. Multi-syllable rhymes often sound more sophisticated than single-syllable pairs.

Frequently asked questions

What rhymes with barely?
Words that rhyme with barely include: squarely, fairly, rarely, unfairly, sparely, debonairly, yarely, wehrli, wehrly, fairley, and 2 more.
How many syllables does barely have?
Barely has 3 syllables.
How many words rhyme with barely?
There are 12 words that rhyme with barely: 12 perfect rhymes.
What is a good rhyme for barely in a song?
The strongest rhymes for barely in songwriting are squarely, fairly, rarely. These are perfect rhymes that share identical ending sounds, creating a satisfying resolution at line endings. For a more subtle effect, try slant rhymes — they add variety without the predictability of exact rhymes.
What are easy words that rhyme with barely?
Common, easy-to-use words that rhyme with barely include squarely, fairly, rarely, unfairly, sparely. These are grouped by syllable count: 0-syllable: fairlie, airlie; 1-syllable: fairly, wehrli; 2-syllable: squarely, rarely. Matching syllable counts helps maintain consistent rhythm in your writing.

Find rhymes for another word