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Glite Dictionary
mincingly

mincingly

9.3
Moves or speaks in a small, careful way that does not look natural
  • adverb
  • /ˈmɪnsɪŋli/
translation icon : con delicadeza
  • He walked mincingly, careful not to disturb the display of fine china.

Examples

  • She says, a bit mincingly, "You were out there with me, Grandpa."

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "It means 'life,'" Byron said mincingly to Toby as he pulled the soggy diaper out from under him.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • With a banshee laugh, he tiptoed mincingly, cradling his privates.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • She spoke mincingly as if trying to impress everyone in the room.

  • The actor delivered his lines mincingly, emphasizing each word with a delicate flourish.

Synonyms

daintily
vsmincingly
3 4.2

To move or act in a small, careful, delicate way

is more affected, showing an artificial delicate manner in movement or speech
demurely
vsmincingly
3 6.1

In a quiet, modest way that shows shyness

is more about affected delicate movement or speech rather than modest reserve

Antonyms

awkwardly
38 2.7

In a clumsy or uncomfortable way, often showing nervousness around other people

clumsily
12 2.8

In an awkward way that shows little skill or control

How Delicate

mincingly
9.3
daintily
3 4.2
delicately
44 3.7
gently
372 1.0

Surface Forms

mincingly positive

Morphology

mincingly = mincing (semi-transparent) = mincing + ly

The formation 'mincing' (adjective) + '-ly' is a straightforward adverbial derivation.

Etymology

Mincingly comes from mince, which once meant 'to make small' and is like the words mini and minute ('small'). A helpful way to remember mincingly is to picture very small, careful steps or speech, so it means to move or talk in a small, careful, and often a little unnatural way.