airily

[air-uh-lee]

adverb

1. in a lively or breezy manner; jauntily.

2. delicately; lightly.

airily

/ ˈɛərɪlɪ /

adverb

1. in a jaunty or high-spirited manner

2. in a light or delicate manner

Other Word Forms

• unairily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of airily¹

First recorded in 1760–70; see airy, -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

“There’s always going to be someone who disagrees,” Carson Jorgensen, the chairman of the Utah Republican Party, said airily as lawmakers prepared to give voters their middle finger.

From Los Angeles Times

This led me to be very wary of people airily predicting that democracy was finished, and made me alive to the way that, paradoxically, such nightmares can actually damage democracy.

From Salon

I told my story light and airily, but it was heavy when it happened.

From Los Angeles Times

The play’s snotty actors, meanwhile, clearly consider their foe a proletarian rube and airily patronize him.

From New York Times

“I’m so tired of subjectivity/I must justify my presence by losing it.” she sang, airily, on “Female Vampire,” a 2016 single.

From New York Times

Related Words

• casually 
• delicately 
• easily 
• faintly www.thesaurus.com
• freely 
• gingerly 
• mildly 
• moderately 
• quietly 
• simply 
• slightly 
• softly 
• sparsely 
• subtly 
• tenderly 
• thinly www.thesaurus.com