Pointedly Meaning
/pˈɔɪntɪˌdli/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
advExplicitly; with emphasis; so as to make a point, especially with criticism.
advWittily or pithily.
Sentence Examples
But then the dogs were howling pointedly, insistently toward the south.
He pointedly ignored her as she walked into the room.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She looked ____ at him when he said something rude and hurtful.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She ____ ignored his question and continued talking to the person standing next to her.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English pointed Middle English -ly English -ly English pointedly From pointed + -ly.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"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:
"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:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She looked ____ at him when he said something rude and hurtful.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She ____ ignored his question and continued talking to the person standing next to her.