lamely

L1A1M3E1L1Y4
/ˈleɪmli/

adverb

In the manner of one who is lame.

“He lamely tried to lie his way out of the situation, but he wasn't really trying and no-one believed him.”

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Meanings

adverblamely (comparative more lamely, superlative most lamely)

comparative more lamely · superlative most lamely

  1. In the manner of one who is lame.
  2. colloquialIn a foolish or ineffective way.

    He lamely tried to lie his way out of the situation, but he wasn't really trying and no-one believed him.

    1 more example

    "I quite admire cats," he said. "There is something about them," he added, "which..." He could not find the words. "Which is quite admirable," he ended lamely.

    1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 436

Origin

From lame + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Esperanto lame, mallerte
  • lamein the manner of the lame
  • mallertein a foolish or ineffective way

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with lamely

namely
All rhymes →

Anagrams

malleymaleyl
Cite this entry
APA

lamely. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lamely

MLA

“lamely.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lamely. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lamely,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lamely.

Source: lamely on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.