adverb
-
frankly, bluntly, or thoroughly
to be roundly criticized
-
in a round manner or so as to be round
Etymology
Origin of roundly
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at round 1, -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.
Although lower courts roundly rejected these claims, the Supreme Court appeared to buy them.
From Slate • Mar. 17, 2026
But instead of being applauded for my effort, I was roundly shamed by my friends.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
During the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, for example, which opened 17 months after the American-led invasion of Iraq, the U.S. team was roundly booed.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026
That recommendation was roundly criticised by paediatricians with the American Academy of Pediatrics describing it as "a dangerous move that will harm children".
From BBC • Jan. 5, 2026
As nearly everyone knows, Clarence Darrow, for the defense, roundly humiliated William Jennings Bryan, for the prosecution, but what most people don’t realize is that Darrow lost the case.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
