merely still

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "merely still" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that something is only in a state of being still, without any additional qualities or actions. Example: "The room was merely still, with not a sound to be heard."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

HAVANA — Yudelsy García O'Connor, the first baby known to have been born with H.I.V. in Cuba, is not merely still alive.

The New York Times - Health

Labour's against it, as are the Lib Dems, and now Clarke is not merely still opposed to it, but also in the shadow cabinet.

The Guardian - Opinion

The flipside of this is where there really is a scientific debate, in which case the debate is not reignited at all, but merely still going on, it has merely come to the attention of the press and public again which is not the same thing at all.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

It's present, for instance, in the way the word "bro" has come to describe an enthusiastic, strong, but still merely manly man who belongs only to an informal, self-satisfied, and pleasure-seeking society of dudes.

The New Yorker

A pen with poison in, yes, but still merely a pen.

The Guardian

Most controversial is how the issue of general relativity as a touchstone for competing philosophies of science was framed: having dismissed Kant's own synthetic a priori for its mistaken apodicity, no time was spared for discussion of its then contemporary development in Neo-Kantianism as a merely relative but still constitutive a priori.

SEP

Then there are all the merely "normal" (but still huge) SUVs.

Huffington Post

Fascinating but still merely hypothetical is the role of secondary lymphoid organs, including LNs.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

We generally use it to delete things that are borderline joke articles / truly crazy ideas like "How to Drive Blindfolded in Heavy Traffic" We don't want to delete all topics that are merely dangerous, but still rational.

WikiHow

They are beginning to be aware of color shots that don't show motion but only still slices of motion, of copy that isn't audible, of printed words that aren't meant to zoom in at viewers but are designed merely to sit still on a page.

The New Yorker

It was a speech that Booker, who is thirty-five, mighaveave been making in Obama's stead at the Fleet Center, as the official superstar, not merely a still rising (or hovering) star.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "merely still" to emphasize the lack of progression or change beyond a state of stillness. It's effective when contrasting expectations with reality, for example: "The market wasn't booming; it was "merely still" afloat."

Common error

Avoid using "merely still" when a simpler description like "still" or "motionless" suffices. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "merely still" functions as an adverbial modifier, typically emphasizing that something is only in a state of being still, with no additional action or progression. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It often serves to highlight a contrast between expectation and reality.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "merely still" functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing a lack of progression or change beyond a state of stillness. Ludwig AI validates the correctness of this phrase, which is most often found in News & Media and Science contexts with a neutral register. While not exceptionally common, it's a useful expression for highlighting contrasts. When using "merely still", ensure it adds value by emphasizing a lack of progress beyond a state of being and avoid overuse to maintain clarity and conciseness in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just still

This alternative replaces "merely" with "just", offering a more casual tone while maintaining the same core meaning.

only still

This alternative uses "only" instead of "merely", emphasizing the limited nature of the state.

simply still

Replacing "merely" with "simply" offers a more straightforward and less formal tone.

barely moving

This phrase shifts from the idea of being "still" to "moving", suggesting minimal movement instead of complete stillness.

virtually unchanged

This alternative emphasizes the lack of change rather than the state of stillness.

largely the same

This alternative highlights the overall similarity despite potential minor differences.

mostly static

This phrase uses "static" to describe the lack of movement or change, adding a more technical feel.

remaining constant

This option focuses on the aspect of maintaining the same state over time.

not yet altered

This alternative highlights the absence of alteration rather than the continuation of a previous condition.

remaining in place

This phrase emphasizes the lack of movement from a specific location.

FAQs

How can I use "merely still" in a sentence?

You can use "merely still" to emphasize a lack of progress or change beyond a state of stillness. For example, "After the surgery, the patient was not improving, but "merely still" alive."

What phrases are similar to "merely still"?

Alternatives to "merely still" include "just still", "only still", or "simply still", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "merely still" or "just still"?

Both "merely still" and "just still" are grammatically correct. "Merely still" is slightly more formal, while "just still" is more casual. The best choice depends on the context and desired tone.

What is the difference between "merely still" and "completely still"?

"Merely still" indicates a basic state of stillness without further qualities. "Completely still" emphasizes a total lack of movement. The former implies a potential for change, while the latter suggests a more absolute state.