A motel is like a hotel only much smaller and is used mostly by people traveling by automobile.
Source: tatoeba (31124)
Mostly
/ˈməʊstli/
Synonyms for "mostly" (129 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (26)
Adverb(1 words)
a fortioriabove allall in allall the moreall things consideredalmost entirelyaltogetherapproximatelyas a ruleas a wholeas an approximationas per usualas things goas usualat largebroadlybroadly speakingby and large
Adverb(7 words)
Strong matches (39)
chieflycommonlycustomarilydominantlyeffectuallyespeciallyessentiallyevenever sofirst of allfor all practical purposesgenerallygenerally speakinghabituallyin chiefin generalin the long runin the mainindeedlargely
Show 2 more words
mainlymore than ever
Determiner(2 words)
mostmost animal tissue
Related words (64)
Adverb(2 words)
most common humanityprimarily
Noun(14 words)
most community-servicemost conserved regionmost data copyingmost fall engagement dipmost massive galaxymost of themost of the timemost partmost portuguese classmost spanish language artsmost state-levelmost three-digitnearly allswedish mest
Determiner(10 words)
most copyingmost first-languagemost lab datamost math worksheetsmost mayan traditionsmost non greek lettermost school communitymost seedling thinningmost state government electionsmost state-government reform
most oftennaturallynearlynever sono endnormallynormativelyon balanceon the wholeordinarilyoverallpartparticularlypeculiarlypredominantlyprescriptivelyprevailinglyprimarilyprincipallyregularly
Adverb(6 words)
Adjective(1 words)
overall trend
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: largely, a fortiori, above all, all in all, all in all.
- Sentence evidence is available for mostly, 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 "mostly".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "mostly"
Keep "mostly" 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 "mostly" 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 "mostly", 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 "mostly" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
1 entriesMore specific
3 entriesCollocations
6 entriesmostly classworkmostly energymostly finishedmostly homeworkmostly sciencemostly water
Sample sentences
13 total sentences available.
The pain has mostly gone away.
Source: tatoeba (41146)
The movie was cast mostly with Americans.
Source: tatoeba (49561)
This substance is mostly composed of hydrogen and oxygen.
Source: tatoeba (57249)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "mostly"?
Closest matches include largely, a fortiori, above all, all in all, all in all.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "mostly"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.