Synonyms

delicately

American

[del-i-kit-lee] / ˈdɛl ɪ kɪt li /

adverb

in a careful way.

They stepped delicately among the brambles and exposed rocks.
Aggressive removal of the tumor must be delicately balanced with the risk of injury to adjacent normal tissue.
in a tactful or sensitive way.

Employee issues need to be managed delicately, with empathy and an open perspective.
in a faint, subtle, quiet, or barely perceptible way.

Dessert was perfection: perfectly moist and delicately flavored ricotta and rhubarb cakes with a big dollop of creamy vanilla mascarpone.
The eye-catching Himalayan honeysuckle has pendant spikes of deep red bracts with white, delicately scented flowers and red-purple berries.
showing or using precision or refinement.

The region is a famous center for embroidery and appliqué work, painted pottery, and delicately carved wooden doors.

Other Word Forms

hyperdelicately adverb
nondelicately adverb
quasi-delicately adverb
superdelicately adverb

Etymology

Origin of delicately

delicate ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Opening its jaws, it took Jeremy's fingertip delicately between its teeth, then shook its head gently from side to side before letting go.

From Literature

A beautiful Audubon matching game with delicately illustrated birds.

From Salon

However, the sense from some in golf is that the situation is delicately poised.

From BBC

But as time passed and she finally took the daguerreotype delicately in her hands, I could see my aunt’s expression transform.

From Literature

Lena’s hair was wound in a careless braid, her hands resting delicately on the back of a chair, as if she intended to sit.

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023