as in sleepily
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Recent Examples of idly
Tanks that had arrived from around the country had been sitting idly on the Mall for a few days; a summer thunderstorm was now threatening to rain out the President’s parade.
—
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
At first idly, then with what appears to be solicitude, and finally with the glee of a cat cornering a mouse before killing it, Gustav pokes into Adi’s professional failures, connecting them to Tekla’s galling success.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Our team has continued the work independently to ensure that the over 1,250 participants who already shared their experiences and data would not have this information sit idly.
—Nathaniel M. Tran, The Conversation, 10 June 2025
Tomlin and team President Art Rooney II both kept the door open for Fields and Wilson to return, only to stand by idly when Fields bolted for the Jets and make no serious attempt to retain Wilson.
—Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for idly
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 15 June 2025
At first idly, then with what appears to be solicitude, and finally with the glee of a cat cornering a mouse before killing it, Gustav pokes into Adi’s professional failures, connecting them to Tekla’s galling success.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Our team has continued the work independently to ensure that the over 1,250 participants who already shared their experiences and data would not have this information sit idly.
—Nathaniel M. Tran, The Conversation, 10 June 2025
Tomlin and team President Art Rooney II both kept the door open for Fields and Wilson to return, only to stand by idly when Fields bolted for the Jets and make no serious attempt to retain Wilson.
—Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for idly
Cite this Entry
“Idly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/idly. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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