Generally

/ˈd͡ʒɛn.ɚ.li/

Synonyms for "generally" (141 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (10)

Adverb(2 words)
broadlyin general
aboutall in allall things consideredaltogetherapproximatelyapproximatively
Adverb(2 words)
all things consideredaltogether

Strong matches (15)

as a ruleas a wholeas an approximationas per usualas things goas usualat largeaveragebroadlybroadly speaking
Adverb(4 words)
as a wholeat largebasicallybroadly
Adverb(1 words)
broadly speaking

Related words (25)

Adverb(5 words)
by and largechieflycommonlyconventionallycustomarilyfor all practical purposesfor the most partfrequentlygenerally speakinghabituallyin generalin round numbers
Adverb(6 words)
by and largecatholiclycollaborativelycommonlyen massein general
Noun(1 words)
control overall force
Adjective(1 words)
high level

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: broadly, in general, about, all in all, all things considered.
  • Sentence evidence is available for generally, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, wiktionary, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "generally".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "generally"

Keep "generally" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "generally" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "generally", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "generally" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

6 relation types

More general

2 entries
adverbsentence adverb

More specific

4 entries

Collocations

5 entries
generally acceptedgenerally availablegenerally knowngenerally truegenerally used

Inflections

2 entries
more generallymost generally

Derivations

3 entries

Antonyms

1 entries

Sample sentences

23 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

Generally, who visits their parents more, sons or daughters?

Source: tatoeba (2243)

Korean food is generally very spicy.

Source: tatoeba (20812)

Students generally like a teacher who understands their problems.

Source: tatoeba (21393)

Generally speaking, Japanese are hard workers.

Source: tatoeba (21782)

Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "generally"?

Closest matches include broadly, in general, about, all in all, all things considered.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "generally"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "generally"