not really
Soft spoken denial
Not really is a soft negative—gentler than a flat no.
It hedges: Did you enjoy the movie? Not really.
The phrase can mean "not much" (I don't really care), "not exactly" (It's not really a lie), or serve as a polite refusal (Want to come along? Not really).
The softening makes it useful for sparing feelings or avoiding commitment.
Delay from uncertainty
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- qualmsMoral reservations or unease
- demurralFormal expression of objection
disinclination · reticence · unwillingness · half-hearted · lukewarm · unenthusiastic · begrudging · foot-dragging
Becoming less firm
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- politeShowing good manners
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
- indirectNot straight or immediate
evasive · noncommittal · euphemism · mitigate · downplay · qualify · deflect · sidestep
Lack of firm belief
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- incredulityInability to accept something
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
cynicism · distrust · dubious · unconvinced · dismissive · debunker · naysayer · contrarian
Opposing claims, incompatible together
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- refutationDisproving a statement
- objectionExpression of disapproval
counterargument · dispute · dissent · opposition · protest · correction · pushback · no
hesitation
Delay from uncertainty
- reservationAdvance arrangement to hold
- misgivingsFeelings of doubt
- qualmsMoral reservations or unease
demurral · disinclination · reticence · unwillingness · half-hearted · lukewarm · unenthusiastic · begrudging · foot-dragging
softening
Becoming less firm
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- politeShowing good manners
- diplomaticTactful and sensitive
indirect · evasive · noncommittal · euphemism · mitigate · downplay · qualify · deflect · sidestep · dodge
doubt
Lack of firm belief
- disbeliefRejection of truth claims
- incredulityInability to accept something
- questioningSeeking answers through inquiry
suspicion · cynicism · distrust · dubious · unconvinced · dismissive · debunker · naysayer · contrarian · challenge
contradiction
Opposing claims, incompatible together
- denialRefusal to accept reality
- rebuttalFormal response disputing claims
- refutationDisproving a statement
objection · counterargument · dispute · dissent · opposition · protest · correction · pushback · no · nope
- hedgessomewhat, I think, slightly, I believe, fairly
- evasionsno comment, dodge, deflection, hedging, equivocation
- sarcastic phraseswhatever, who cares, yeah right, so what, why bother
- humble responsesit was nothing, no big deal, happy to help, my pleasure, don't mention it
- negativesno, never, none, nothing, nobody
not reallyabsolutely
Completely, without exception
definitely · yes · certainly · of course · indeed
not reallyabsolutely not
Emphatic total rejection
definitely not · no way · not at all · never · certainly not
not reallywithout question
Beyond any doubt
positively · emphatically · unquestionably · decidedly · assuredly
note, not, notice, really, notion, notable, noticed, noticeable, noting