squarely
Americanadverb
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in a square shape, form, or manner.
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directly; without evasion; in a straight or straightforward manner.
to face a problem squarely.
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in an honest or open manner; fairly.
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in a clear manner; unequivocally.
Our faith is based squarely on a commitment to the rights of all human beings.
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firmly; so as to come into direct contact.
The ball struck him squarely in the face.
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in the exact place that is specified; exactly.
The house sat squarely in the middle of the park.
adverb
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in a direct way; straight
he hit me squarely on the nose
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in an honest, frank, and just manner
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at right angles
Etymology
Origin of squarely
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.
“The conflict in the Middle East places geopolitical risks squarely at the center of the economic outlook for developing Asia and the Pacific,” said Albert Park, chief economist at ADB.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
In West Los Angeles, a big Afeela ad above a Tesla dealership puts the EV leader squarely in its crosshairs.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026
Ken Lerer, whose venture-capital fund Lerer Hippeau was an early investor in BuzzFeed and who served as the company’s board chairman until 2019, placed the blame more squarely on how the company was managed.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 13, 2026
That’s likely to keep affordability issues squarely in focus in the coming months.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
He pulled me up to the counter, squarely in front of the registration officers.
From "Salt to the Sea" by Ruta Sepetys
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.
