only just
By a whisker
Only just emphasizes how narrowly or recently something happened.
It can mean barely: We only just made it in time.
Or it can stress immediacy—something that happened moments ago: I've only just arrived.
Both uses convey that very little separated success from failure, or the present from the event.
Almost not
- hardlyAlmost not at all
- narrowlyBy a small margin
- almostShort of completely
- by a whiskerBy the slimmest margin
by the skin of one's teeth · by a hair · by a nose · by a thread · fractionally · slightly · minimally · not quite
In recent time
- latelyIn recent times
- recentlyIn the near past
- freshlyRecently made or done
- not long agoIn the near past
At the end
- at lastAfter prolonged waiting
- thank goodnessRelief exclamation
- mercifullyWith compassion or relief
- fortunatelyBy favorable circumstance
in the nick of time · what a relief · phew · that was close · narrow escape · lucky break · dodged a bullet
Achieved with difficulty
- with great difficultyIn a hard manner
- painstakinglyWith extreme thoroughness
- uphill battleDifficult prolonged endeavor
- perseveranceSustained resolve despite obstacles
against the odds · fought for · earned · clawed back · surviving
scarcely
Almost not
by a whisker · by the skin of one's teeth · by a hair · by a nose · by a thread · fractionally · slightly · minimally · not quite · with difficulty
newly
In recent time
finally
At the end
- at lastAfter prolonged waiting
- thank goodnessRelief exclamation
- mercifullyWith compassion or relief
fortunately · in the nick of time · what a relief · phew · that was close · narrow escape · lucky break · dodged a bullet
hard-won
Achieved with difficulty
- with great difficultyIn a hard manner
- painstakinglyWith extreme thoroughness
- uphill battleDifficult prolonged endeavor
against the odds · perseverance · fought for · earned · clawed back · surviving
only justeasily
Without difficulty
comfortably · by a mile · handily · by a wide margin · with ease
just, only, justice, adjust, justify, unjust, injustice, justly, justifiable