Finely
What it means
With delicate skill, exact detail, or a very small degree of division.
Reach for it when describing precise craft or preparation where coarseness would matter
The conservator finely matched the new pigment to the faded blue.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
Fits when the maker's ability deserves direct credit
Careful Skillfully says nothing about small scale or subtle detail.
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everyday
thinly
Fits when food or material is cut into narrow pieces
Careful Thinly concerns dimension, not the quality of the cutting.
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warm
Fits when gentle handling or a light result is central
Careful Delicately does not promise precision or high skill.
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professional
Fits when exact placement or measurement matters most
Careful Precision can be achieved without the refinement implied by finely.
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formal
minutely
Fits when extremely small detail is examined or divided
Careful Minutely sounds analytical rather than appreciative of craft.
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literary
exquisitely
Fits when beauty and exceptional refinement justify elevated praise
Careful Exquisitely overstates competent everyday workmanship.
Opposites 3
- coarsely
- roughly
- crudely
Common phrases 3
-
finely crafted
The clasp is finely crafted from recycled silver.
-
finely balanced
The sauce is finely balanced between smoke and citrus.
-
finely chopped
Finely chopped herbs release their scent into the warm oil.
Word family 1
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Neskaya, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated