squarely

What it means

1. geometryIn the shape of a square; at right angles.
2. alsofigurativelyFirmly and solidly.

   “I stand squarely behind my decision,” he said, adding that he would not “shrink from my share of responsibility for where we are today.”

   2021 August 16, Michael D. Shear, David E. Sanger, quoting Joe Biden, “Biden stands behind Afghan withdrawal, despite ‘hard and messy’ final days.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 21 Aug 2021

   1 more example

   Conoco on Monday announced a $9.7 billion all-stock takeover of Concho Resources (CXO), a fracker squarely focused on the Permian Basin, the massive West Texas oilfield at the heart of the shale revolution.

   2020 October 19, Matt Egan, “The oil industry is in crisis. ConocoPhillips is doubling down”, in CNN Business

3. figurativelyIn a direct, straightforward and honest manner.

   But Republicans placed the blame squarely on Mr. Biden.

   2021 August 16, Michael D. Shear, David E. Sanger, “Biden stands behind Afghan withdrawal, despite ‘hard and messy’ final days.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 21 Aug 2021

In a sentence

“I stand squarely behind my decision,” he said, adding that he would not “shrink from my share of responsibility for where we are today.”

2021 August 16, Michael D. Shear, David E. Sanger, quoting Joe Biden, “Biden stands behind Afghan withdrawal, despite ‘hard and messy’ final days.”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, archived from the original on 21 Aug 2021

Where it comes from

From square + -ly. First use appears c. 1557 in the writings of Robert Recorde.