Meanings
comparative more squarely · superlative most squarely
- geometryIn the shape of a square; at right angles.
- 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 20211 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 - 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
Synonyms & antonyms
adverbdirectly and without evasion; not roundabout
adverbin a straight direct way
adverbfirmly and solidly
adverbin a square shape
adverbwith firmness and conviction; without compromise
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From square + -ly. First use appears c. 1557 in the writings of Robert Recorde.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian квадратно, твърдо
- квадратно (kvadratno)In the shape of a square; at right angles
- твърдо (tvărdo)Firmly and solidly
- категорично (kategorično)Firmly and solidly
- честно (čestno)In a direct, straightforward and honest manner
- почтено (počteno)In a direct, straightforward and honest manner
Czech zcela, bezvýhradně
- zcelaFirmly and solidly
- bezvýhradněFirmly and solidly
- přímoIn a direct, straightforward and honest manner
- rovnouIn a direct, straightforward and honest manner
Esperanto kvadrate
- kvadrateIn the shape of a square; at right angles
French d'équerre, à l'équerre
- d'équerreIn the shape of a square; at right angles
- à l'équerreIn the shape of a square; at right angles
- carrémentIn the shape of a square; at right angles
- solidementFirmly and solidly
- fermementFirmly and solidly
- carrémentFirmly and solidly
- carrémentIn a direct, straightforward and honest manner
German quadratisch, rechteckig
- quadratischIn the shape of a square; at right angles
- rechteckigIn the shape of a square; at right angles
- festFirmly and solidly
- felsenfestFirmly and solidly
- direktIn a direct, straightforward and honest manner
Hungarian határozottan
- határozottanFirmly and solidly
Portuguese firmemente, solidamente
- firmementeFirmly and solidly
- solidamenteFirmly and solidly
Russian твёрдо, определённо
- твёрдо (tvjórdo)Firmly and solidly
- определённо (opredeljónno)Firmly and solidly
- непосре́дственно (neposrédstvenno)Firmly and solidly
Spanish en forma de cuadrado, cuadradamente
- en forma de cuadradoIn the shape of a square; at right angles
- cuadradamenteIn the shape of a square; at right angles
- sólidamenteFirmly and solidly
- cuadradamenteFirmly and solidly
- rectamenteIn a direct, straightforward and honest manner
Swedish kvadratiskt
- kvadratisktIn the shape of a square; at right angles
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with squarely
All rhymes →Cite this entry
squarely. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squarely
“squarely.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squarely. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “squarely,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/squarely.
Source: squarely on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.