Dictionary

pointedly en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English pointed Middle English -ly English -ly English pointedly From pointed + -ly.

Meanings

1. Explicitly; with emphasis; so as to make a point, especially with criticism.
   • In a second ruling on Sunday, Immergut expanded on her earlier order, temporarily blocking the administration from deploying troops from any state to Portland, and pointedly questioning an administration attorney over what she characterized as an attempt to circumvent her earlier order. 2025 October 6, Michael Williams, “Who is Karin Immergut, the Trump-appointed judge who ruled against his push to deploy troops in Oregon?”, in CNN:
   • The film echoes a central question from all the Wick films, though: is he a natural-born murderer? Or a good man underneath it all? "This is who you are," the Marquis tells him. "A killer." The question is pointedly unresolved here. 2023 March 14, Caryn James, “John Wick: Chapter 4: 'Soars above most action films'”, in BBC:
2. (obsolete) Wittily or pithily.
3. Markedly, intentionally conspicuously.
   • I was pointedly ignored.

Forms