at best

ADVERB

partly

Synonyms

STRONGEST

at least partially slightly somewhat

WEAK

at most at worst bit by bit by degrees carelessly halfway in a general way in bits and pieces in part in some measure in some ways inadequately incompletely insufficiently little by little measurably not entirely not fully not strictly speaking not wholly notably noticeably piece by piece piecemeal relatively so far as possible to a certain degree to a certain extent up to a certain point within limits

Antonyms

WEAK

completely totally wholly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The message of history was unmistakable: The stock market over the next decade would struggle at best and be in the red for many years.

From MarketWatch

In short, carefully packaged and shiny this is not: at best it is a distraction for ministers, at worst a gushing torrent of awkwardness and embarrassment - and it is far from over yet.

From BBC

“Meanwhile, everyone is observing that Iran has, at best, a middling military capability—and the Americans can’t take them out,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

But it's already clear that ending the war will not be simple, and its consequences are at best uncertain and at worst dangerous.

From BBC

It’s a contradiction at best, and hypocrisy at worst.

From The Wall Street Journal

at best

Example Sentences

Related Words