How to Use not exactly in a Sentence

not exactly

idiom
Definition of not exactlynext
  • The stories are not exactly the same, but the events in both movies happen around the same time.
    — Olivia Evans, Women's Health, 19 July 2023
  • This is not exactly the kind of growth we’re used to seeing in IPOs.
    — Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge, 25 Aug. 2023
  • So, The Fall Guy, though not exactly the same, had a very small group of us pushing the creative.
    — Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2024
  • Sign up With the times Saving money is not exactly a new trend among the youth.
    — Devika Rao, theweek, 31 July 2024
  • The Searcher, with its John Ford title homage, is a play on the Western, a genre not exactly known for its deep thinkers.
    — Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024
  • Dear Abby: What’s a classy way to reach out to a man who’s not exactly single?
    — Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024
  • Teams did not exactly stampede to sign him this spring.
    — Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 20 July 2023
  • Experts say yes—but not exactly in the way many TikTok users claim.
    — Amber Sayer, Health, 8 July 2024
  • That’s not exactly a stand-firm-until-the-last-dog-dies endorsement.
    — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2024
  • Someone took a picture of their dog still got $30, so the system was not exactly tightly run.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 July 2023
  • And New York City, with its abundance of stimulation, is not exactly the ideal spot to chase a moment of zen.
    — Juliet Izon, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2024
  • Ford is working with N plus on its Bronco and Mustang bikes, which is not exactly a household name.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 7 Aug. 2024
  • There are a several huge le différences this time around, however, and not exactly the kind that inspire you to throw a hearty Vive in front of them.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 5 Apr. 2024
  • Here, the results are not exactly a complete dish on their own, but instead offer the makings of so many others.
    — Joe Yonan, Washington Post, 28 Jan. 2024
  • Though neither is a conference contender this season, the teams are not exactly in the same spot in the SEC pecking order.
    — Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2023
  • One of the drawbacks to old homes is they’re not exactly optimized for modern-day living.
    — Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
  • Although the phrasing of your initial offer to swap places -- as a favor to him -- was not exactly rude, Miss Manners knows what was in your heart.
    — Miss Manners | Judith Martin, Anchorage Daily News, 29 June 2023
  • Greg’s date, Bridget, was not exactly welcomed with open arms.
    — Herb Scribner, Washington Post, 14 Jan. 2024
  • While the appeal has grown, private credit is not exactly a new entrant to the financial world.
    — Drew Maloney, Fortune, 24 Jan. 2024
  • The operator does not exactly fly the drone so much as tell it where to go, with the drone doing all the piloting and preventing crashes.
    — David Hambling, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
  • Above their studio was a therapist’s office and drums were not exactly welcome in the session due to noise concerns.
    — Billboard Staff, Billboard, 24 Aug. 2023
  • The Swiss royal parents of her husband, Prince Egon von Furstenberg, did not exactly welcome her to the family.
    — Merle Ginsberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 June 2024
  • However, the Chateau-sur-Mer that Wetmore built is not exactly the one visitors see today.
    — Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 6 Aug. 2024
  • The tweens have taken over, and Sephora employees and shoppers are not exactly thrilled about the invasion.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 12 Jan. 2024
  • Also heard on the soundtrack are ominous recordings, not exactly music but faint siren-like sounds that announce the film’s subject.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
  • Davis does not exactly celebrate the gospel according to Noyes, who sounds like the kind of cult leader about whom Netflix would today make a lurid series.
    — Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2024
  • Elon Musk knows a thing or two about starting companies—but his advice for would-be entrepreneurs might not exactly inspire them.
    — Steve Mollman, Fortune, 22 Dec. 2023
  • The thing is, that's not exactly a misleading argument.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2024
  • But the place is not exactly teeming with Newsom supporters.
    — Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2023
  • However, people started to point out that this was not exactly how the ultrarich really dressed, or at least not all of them.
    — Sarah Spellings, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'not exactly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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