barely smiles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely smiles" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who smiles very little or only in a minimal way, often indicating a lack of enthusiasm or joy. Example: "Despite the good news, she barely smiles, revealing her underlying concerns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This, it turns out, was an installation by Michael Stipe, which makes perfect sense since he barely smiles in front of gnarled trees, too.

The New York Times

In the same building the next day, Mr Oddsson barely smiles when he tells The Economist, "They say that the only way to get to paradise without dying is to be governor of a central bank.

The Economist

He barely smiles once for the entire duration of the film and, while a darker and more authentic Bond was what the producers wanted, this approach gets a bit wearying in a film that's over two hours long.

The Guardian - Film

He cries almost all the time, barely smiles and does not want to eat anything.

Unicef

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

His eyes narrowed and he barely smiled.

The New York Times - Magazine

After each hit, Matsui barely smiled as he accepted congratulations.

The New York Times

Taciturn at first, the couple barely smiled and seemed ill at ease with the sudden attention.

The New York Times

But he wasn't there to stretch out songs or improvise; he played close to the vest and barely smiled.

The New York Times - Arts

Some players exhibit flair, aggression and killer instinct on the board but show few emotions off it, barely smiling, let alone whooping and punching the air, after victory.

The Guardian - Sport

In his photo, Brown barely smiled, his green mortarboard tilted back on his large head, a red sash around his shoulders – a slight bravado that, his teacher noted, might have obscured how difficult reaching this moment had been.

Independent

In his photo, Brown barely smiled, his green mortarboard tilted back on his large head, a red sash around his shoulders — a slight bravado that, his teacher noted, might have obscured how difficult reaching this moment had been.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a character's personality, use "barely smiles" to subtly convey their reserved or unhappy nature without explicitly stating it.

Common error

Avoid using "barely smiles" excessively in dialogue tags. Instead, show the character's lack of smiling through their actions and words to maintain a natural flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely smiles" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used to characterize someone's demeanor or emotional state. As Ludwig AI underlines, it indicates a low frequency of smiling, suggesting reserve, unhappiness, or stoicism. Examples show its application in diverse contexts from film reviews to personal observations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely smiles" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe someone who rarely exhibits a smile. According to Ludwig AI, it is a descriptive phrase conveying a subdued or reserved emotional state. Predominantly found in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts, as evidenced by the examples, it serves to characterize individuals with limited expressions of joy. Alternative phrases like "hardly smiles" or "scarcely smiles" can be used interchangeably to similar effect. When incorporating this phrase in writing, avoid overuse in dialogue and aim to subtly convey a character's disposition. Overall, "barely smiles" is a useful tool for nuanced character description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely smiles

Emphasizes the rarity of smiling, similar to "barely smiles" but with a slightly stronger sense of infrequency.

hardly smiles

Indicates that smiling is an uncommon occurrence, closely mirroring the meaning of "barely smiles".

rarely smiles

Highlights the infrequent nature of smiling, akin to "barely smiles" in conveying a lack of frequent smiles.

seldom smiles

Implies an infrequent smile, maintaining a formal tone similar to "barely smiles" in certain contexts.

infrequently smiles

Directly states the lack of frequent smiles, providing a more explicit alternative to "barely smiles".

almost never smiles

Expresses that smiling happens close to never, slightly exaggerating the lack of smiles compared to "barely smiles".

rarely cracks a smile

Focuses on the effort or difficulty in producing even a small smile, differing slightly from the neutral tone of "barely smiles".

maintains a stoic expression

Describes a general lack of emotional expression, including smiling, which is a broader description than "barely smiles".

keeps a straight face

Highlights the act of avoiding a smile, often in situations where smiling might be expected, differing in nuance from "barely smiles".

shows little emotion

Indicates a general lack of emotional display, including smiling, offering a broader commentary than the specific act described by "barely smiles".

FAQs

How can I use "barely smiles" in a sentence?

You can use "barely smiles" to describe someone who rarely expresses joy or amusement through smiling. For example, "Despite the cheerful atmosphere, she "barely smiles", hinting at a deeper sadness."

What are some alternatives to "barely smiles"?

Alternatives include phrases like "hardly smiles", "scarcely smiles", or "rarely smiles", which all convey a similar meaning of infrequent smiling.

Is it grammatically correct to say "barely smiles"?

Yes, "barely smiles" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe the infrequent act of smiling. The adverb "barely" modifies the verb "smiles" correctly.

What's the difference between "barely smiles" and "never smiles"?

"Barely smiles" suggests that someone smiles very infrequently, while "never smiles" implies that they absolutely never smile. The former allows for the possibility of a rare smile, while the latter is an absolute statement.