meekly

[meek-lee]

adverb

1. in a humbly patient or quiet manner.

   When addressing a lawyer during oral arguments, the judge often starts meekly with, "Counsel, may I interrupt?"

2. in an overly submissive or compliant manner.

   Not knowing what we were getting into, we meekly agreed.

Other Word Forms

• overmeekly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of meekly¹

meek ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

What sort of precedent would it set if Newcastle were to meekly wave off a player with three years left on his contract, especially to the champions?

From BBC

Once again, they let a winnable game go meekly by the wayside.

From Los Angeles Times

Then, the top of the order couldn’t get the ball out of the infield in the sixth inning, meekly disappearing on 13 pitches.

From Los Angeles Times

Rudakubana ended his rampage meekly, dropping his kitchen knife and surrounding to the police without a word.

From BBC

Security Council, additional sanctions are a pipe dream for the foreseeable future, while those on the books already are meekly enforced.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delicately 
• indifferently www.thesaurus.com
• lightly 
• moderately 
• quietly