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Synonyms

squarely

American  
[skwair-lee] / ˈskwɛər li /

adverb

  1. in a square shape, form, or manner.

  2. directly; without evasion; in a straight or straightforward manner.

    to face a problem squarely.

  3. in an honest or open manner; fairly.

  4. in a clear manner; unequivocally.

    Our faith is based squarely on a commitment to the rights of all human beings.

  5. firmly; so as to come into direct contact.

    The ball struck him squarely in the face.

  6. in the exact place that is specified; exactly.

    The house sat squarely in the middle of the park.


squarely British  
/ ˈskwɛəlɪ /

adverb

  1. in a direct way; straight

    he hit me squarely on the nose

  2. in an honest, frank, and just manner

  3. at right angles

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of squarely

First recorded in 1550–60; square + -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.

See Examples For:

The large majority of Ohioans are Christian, and a quarter of them identify squarely as evangelical.

From Slate ● Oct. 23, 2026

The absence of hitting puts the pressure squarely on the shoulders of Snell and Glasnow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

"The burden of escalation would rest squarely upon the aggressor; they and they alone would bear the full moral, political, and strategic weight of deciding whether to do so," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

But for now, the focus remains squarely on yields, especially with the start of third-quarter earnings season still a few weeks away.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

The rock caught it squarely on the back.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

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