18 Other Ways to Say BARELY: BARELY Synonyms With Examples

You know those times when you want to say “barely,” but you feel like using another word to make it sound fresh? Well, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll explore 18 amazing synonyms like “hardly,” “scarcely,” and “narrowly.” You’ll not only learn their meanings but also see examples that will help you use them naturally in your daily conversations. Let’s dive in together!

Hardly

When you say “hardly,” you mean something almost did not happen or it was very difficult to do. It shows that something is close to not being true or not happening at all. You can use it when you want to express struggle, small effort, or nearly impossible action. This word fits well in casual talks, daily events, and even storytelling. It adds strong emotion when you want to show difficulty.

• She could hardly breathe after running.
• He hardly touched his dinner.
• They hardly won the match.

Scarcely

“Scarcely” is used to show that something happened just a little or almost not at all. It points out that there was very little chance or time for something. It often sounds like a situation that was rushed, rare, or only just possible. You can use this word to express urgency or to make a situation sound dramatic. It is perfect for moments of surprise or short chances.

• He scarcely had time to prepare.
• They scarcely survived the storm.
• She could scarcely believe her eyes.

Narrowly

“Narrowly” means something happened by a very small margin. It often describes situations where danger or failure was very close but still avoided. This word adds a sense of relief or tension to what you are saying. It works best in stories, close calls, or events where the outcome could have been very different. Use it when you want to show how close something was.

• The car narrowly avoided an accident.
• He narrowly missed the train.
• She narrowly escaped the fall.

Just

When you use “just,” it can mean something happened by a small amount or at the very last moment. It is often used to show that success or action only barely happened. This word makes sentences sound natural and friendly. You can use it in daily conversations when you want to show how close or small something was. It often adds a tone of relief or surprise.

• She just passed the exam.
• He just reached the bus stop.
• We just made the deadline.

Almost not

“Almost not” is a simple way to show that something nearly did not happen. It is useful when you want to describe a very close situation where success or action was nearly missed. This phrase is very clear and works in everyday talk. It also adds a feeling of tension because it shows that something nearly failed or did not happen as expected.

• He almost did not come on time.
• She almost did not finish her project.
• They almost did not win the race.

Merely

“Merely” is used to show that something is nothing more than what is said. It makes a situation sound small, plain, or unimportant. You can use it when you want to play down an event or make it sound less impressive. It is often used to lower expectations or to show that something is simple. It adds softness to how you describe events.

• It was merely a suggestion.
• She is merely a student.
• That is merely a guess.

Only just

“Only just” is used when something almost failed to happen or barely succeeded. It makes a situation sound like it was saved at the very edge of time or chance. You can use it when you want to add drama or highlight how close something was. It works well when talking about deadlines, challenges, or very tight chances.

• She only just made the deadline.
• He only just caught the train.
• We only just escaped the storm.

Slightly

“Slightly” shows that something happened by a very small amount. It is often used to make something sound soft, gentle, or not too serious. You can use it to describe moods, actions, or physical states. It works well when you do not want to sound dramatic but still want to show that something is true. It makes your tone lighter and softer.

• He was slightly upset.
• She looked slightly tired.
• The soup was slightly salty.

Barely enough

“Barely enough” means there was only the minimum required. It shows that resources, time, or effort were at their lowest possible level. You can use it when describing situations of shortage, small amounts, or limits. It works well when you want to stress how little there was. It often makes the listener feel the tightness of the situation.

• We had barely enough food.
• She had barely enough money.
• They had barely enough time.

By a hair

“By a hair” is a fun way to show that something happened with a very tiny margin. It often brings a sense of surprise or relief. People use it when describing wins, close calls, or moments where success almost slipped away. It makes the story sound dramatic and exciting. You can use it to add energy when talking with friends about close moments.

• She won by a hair.
• He survived by a hair.
• The ball missed by a hair.

Nearly not

“Nearly not” means something was very close to failing or not happening. It is used when you want to show the fragile nature of an event. You can say it when something almost ended badly but still managed to happen. It works well in casual talk and also in storytelling. This phrase makes the listener feel how close things were to failure.

• He nearly did not finish his work.
• She nearly did not arrive on time.
• They nearly did not win the game.

Virtually not

“Virtually not” is used to say that something was almost completely absent or did not happen in any real way. It shows that even though something may exist in name, it did not matter much. You can use it to describe very low action or almost nothing happening. This phrase often makes situations sound very empty or weak. It is strong when you want to show lack.

• The shop was virtually not open.
• He was virtually not present in class.
• She was virtually not listening.

At the last moment

“At the last moment” means something happened right before it was too late. It adds drama because it makes the listener imagine how close everything was. You can use it to tell stories about deadlines, risks, or sudden saves. This phrase brings urgency and keeps attention on how close something came to not happening. It is useful when you want to add suspense.

• He finished at the last moment.
• She arrived at the last moment.
• They won at the last moment.

By the skin of one’s teeth

“By the skin of one’s teeth” is a colorful way to say something almost failed but just managed to succeed. It often brings excitement and makes the listener picture the tension. You can use it for exams, games, or tasks that barely succeeded. This phrase feels dramatic and fun. It is great for making a story sound more alive and thrilling.

• She passed by the skin of her teeth.
• He survived by the skin of his teeth.
• They escaped by the skin of their teeth.

Minimally

“Minimally” means something was done with the smallest amount possible. It shows that effort, energy, or presence was very little. You can use it when you want to point out that something was at its lowest limit. This word is helpful when describing tasks, work, or reactions. It makes the situation sound weak or reduced but still present in some way.

• He spoke minimally.
• She worked minimally.
• They responded minimally.

Slight chance

“Slight chance” means there is a very small possibility of something happening. It often adds a sense of doubt or uncertainty. You can use it when you want to keep hopes low but not impossible. This phrase works well when talking about weather, events, or future plans. It makes the listener understand that the chances are not strong.

• There is a slight chance of rain.
• She has a slight chance to win.
• We have a slight chance of success.

By inches

“By inches” shows that something nearly happened or was missed by a very small distance. It makes situations sound tense and close. You can use it for sports, risks, or any action that was nearly successful or failed. This phrase adds excitement and helps create a picture in the listener’s mind. It works great for moments full of tension and suspense.

• The ball missed by inches.
• He survived by inches.
• She won by inches.

Almost failed

“Almost failed” is a direct way to say something came very close to not working out. It highlights the difficulty or risk in the situation. You can use it for exams, tasks, or goals. It works well when you want to add drama and make the listener feel the struggle. This phrase makes the outcome sound uncertain and tense but also victorious in the end.

• She almost failed her driving test.
• He almost failed the exam.
• They almost failed the mission.

Final Thoughts

You now have 18 fresh ways to say “barely” that you can use in your daily conversations. Each word adds its own style, from “hardly” to “by a hair.” So, whenever you want to share how close something was, you will never run out of words again. Keep them in mind and have fun using them.