# softly

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈsɔftli/ · frequency rank #10,133

## Definitions
1. In a soft manner; gently.
2. Not loudly; nearly inaudibly.
3. With subdued color; faded or misty with distance.

## Etymology
From Middle English softely, softeliche, equivalent to soft + -ly.

## Easily confused with
- **solely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/softly-vs-solely)
- **subtly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/softly-vs-subtly)
- **sorely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/softly-vs-sorely)
- **swiftly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/softly-vs-swiftly)
- **soft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/soft-vs-softly)
- **safely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/safely-vs-softly)
- **soften** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/soften-vs-softly)
- **shortly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/shortly-vs-softly)

## Common misspellings (10)
`osftly`, `sfotly`, `sofftly`, `soflty`, `softlly`, `softlyy`, `softtly`, `softyl`, `sotfly`, `ssoftly`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/softly