merely
adv. degree C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈmɪɹɫi// UK //mˈiəli// mere·ly
adv. only or just. You use this to show that something is small, simple, or not as important as people might think.
adv. used to emphasise that something is small, unimportant, or nothing more than what is specified.
He is merely a child and does not understand.
The new law is merely a suggestion and does not include any real punishments for those who break it.
While the critic dismissed the painting as merely decorative, the artist insisted that the choice of colors carried a profound political message regarding the era's social instability.
From Middle English mereli, equivalent to mere + -ly.
Usage
Typically placed before the word or phrase it modifies to limit its importance.