merely
adverb uk/ˈmɪə.li/ us/ˈmɪr.li/
(ONLY)
B2 （用于强调所说的即为所想表达的）仅仅，只，不过
used to emphasize that you mean exactly what you are saying and nothing more
I wasn't complaining, I merely said that I was tired. 我不是抱怨，我只不过是说我累了。
I didn't say that you had to go - I merely suggested that you might want to go. 我不是说你必须去，我只是说你也许会想去。
- More examples
- The minister's speech had merely fogged the issue.
- He called the new building unoriginal and said that it merely aped the classical traditions.
- She didn't reply - she merely smiled that insinuating smile.
- Of his origins he said very little, merely mentioning in parenthesis that his background was poor.
- Patriarchy has not disappeared - it has merely changed form.
(NOT LARGE/IMPORTANT)
C2 （用于强调不大，不重要或效果不大）仅仅，只，不过
used to emphasize that something is not large, important, or effective when compared to something else
The medicine won't cure her - it merely stops the pain. 这种药物不会治愈她的疾病，不过是止痛而已。