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formlessly

formlessly

7.0
In a way that has no clear shape
  • adverb
  • /ˈfɔrm.ləs.li/
translation icon : sin forma
  • In the dark room, the shadows moved formlessly, creating an eerie atmosphere.

Examples

  • The artist painted formlessly, allowing the colors to blend without a specific pattern.

  • But it was all illusory: false hints of shape flattening into time gone by formlessly.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • The clouds drifted formlessly across the sky, changing shapes with the wind.

Synonyms

amorphously
vsformlessly
7.6

In a way that has no clear shape or structure

stresses missing definite structure rather than just unclear outline
shapelessly
vsformlessly
6.4

In a way that has no clear form or outline

focuses on missing structure rather than on lack of distinct outline

How Formed

neatly
93 1.0
irregularly
4 4.2
formlessly
7.0

Surface Forms

formlessly positive

Morphology

formlessly = formless (transparent) = form + less + ly

The adverb is formed by adding '-ly' to the adjective 'formless', whose meaning is transparently 'without form'.

Etymology

The word formlessly starts with form, meaning 'shape', and adds -less meaning 'without' and -ly to say 'in that way'. So, formlessly means 'in a way that has no clear shape'.