Sweet vs. Sweetly — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 16, 2023
Sweet is an adjective describing pleasant taste or endearing qualities. Sweetly is an adverb describing actions done in a sweet manner.
Difference Between Sweet and Sweetly
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Sweet is primarily used as an adjective in the English language. When people think of sweet, they might initially think of sugar or candy, things that have a pleasant taste, often associated with sugar. On the other hand, sweetly serves as an adverb, describing how an action is performed.
Sweet can also move beyond taste. It's often used to describe people or actions that are kind, gentle, or endearing. For example, a person might be called sweet if they're considerate and kind-hearted. In contrast, sweetly focuses on the manner of the action, like speaking sweetly or smiling sweetly.
While sweet directly describes nouns, such as a sweet song or sweet child, sweetly modifies verbs. For instance, if someone sings in a pleasant and soothing tone, they're said to sing sweetly. It’s important to note how sweet attaches to the subject, while sweetly relates more to the verb or action in the sentence.
A dessert might be described as sweet if it has a sugary taste. Meanwhile, if someone were to talk about a memory in a tender and affectionate manner, they would be recalling it sweetly. Both words, although closely related, serve distinct purposes in the structure of a sentence and the nuances they convey.
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Adjective
Adverb
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Describes
Nouns (e.g., taste, people, things)
Verbs (e.g., actions, manners)
Typical Usage
Describes taste or endearing qualities
Describes an action done in a sweet manner
Examples
Sweet cake, sweet child
Speaks sweetly, smiles sweetly
Relation
Directly describes the subject/noun
Modifies the verb or action
Compare with Definitions
Sweet
Used as a term of endearment.
Hello, my sweet!
Sweetly
With sweetness or affection.
He looked at her sweetly.
Sweet
Melodious or pleasing sound.
The sweet song of the birds.
Sweetly
Without bitterness or resentment.
She accepted the critique sweetly.
Sweet
Having the pleasant taste characteristic of sugar or honey; not salt, sour, or bitter
A cup of hot sweet tea
Sweetly
In an endearing manner.
The child smiled sweetly.
Sweet
Pleasing in general; delightful
It was the sweet life he had always craved
Sweetly
In a sweet manner or tone.
She sang sweetly.
Sweet
(of a person or action) pleasant and kind or thoughtful
It was sweet of you to come
A very sweet nurse came along
Sweetly
In a pleasing way.
The room was sweetly decorated.
Sweet
Used for emphasis in various phrases and exclamations
What had happened? Sweet nothing
Sweetly
Having the taste of sugar or a substance containing or resembling sugar, as honey or saccharin.
Sweet
A small shaped piece of confectionery made with sugar
A bag of sweets
Sweetly
Containing or derived from sugar.
Sweet
A sweet dish forming a course of a meal; a pudding or dessert.
Sweetly
Retaining some natural sugar; not dry
A sweet wine.
Sweet
Used as an affectionate form of address
Hello, my sweet
Sweetly
Pleasing to the senses; agreeable
The sweet song of the lark.
A sweet face.
Sweet
The sweet part or element of something
You have had the bitter, now comes the sweet
Sweetly
Pleasing to the mind or feelings; gratifying
Sweet revenge.
Sweet
Having the taste of sugar or a substance containing or resembling sugar, as honey or saccharin.
Sweetly
Having a pleasing disposition; lovable
A sweet child.
Sweet
Containing or derived from sugar.
Sweetly
Kind; gracious
It was sweet of him to help out.
Sweet
Retaining some natural sugar; not dry
A sweet wine.
Sweetly
Fragrant; perfumed
A sweet scent.
Sweet
Pleasing to the senses; agreeable
The sweet song of the lark.
A sweet face.
Sweetly
Not saline or salted
Sweet water.
Sweet butter.
Sweet
Pleasing to the mind or feelings; gratifying
Sweet revenge.
Sweetly
Not spoiled, sour, or decaying; fresh
Sweet milk.
Sweet
Having a pleasing disposition; lovable
A sweet child.
Sweetly
Free of acid or acidity
Sweet soil.
Sweet
Kind; gracious
It was sweet of him to help out.
Sweetly
Low in sulfur content
Sweet fuel oil.
Sweet
Fragrant; perfumed
A sweet scent.
Sweetly
(Music) Of, relating to, or being a form of jazz characterized by adherence to a melodic line and to a time signature.
Sweet
Not saline or salted
Sweet water.
Sweet butter.
Sweetly
Remarkable; outstanding.
Sweet
Not spoiled, sour, or decaying; fresh
Sweet milk.
Sweetly
Used as an intensive
Took his own sweet time to finish.
Earns a sweet million per year.
Sweet
Free of acid or acidity
Sweet soil.
Sweetly
In a sweet manner; sweetly.
Sweet
Low in sulfur content
Sweet fuel oil.
Sweetly
Sweet taste or quality; sweetness.
Sweet
(Music) Of, relating to, or being a form of jazz characterized by adherence to a melodic line and to a time signature.
Sweetly
Something sweet to the taste.
Sweet
Remarkable; outstanding.
Sweetly
Foods, such as candy, pastries, puddings, or preserves, that are high in sugar content.
Sweet
Used as an intensive
Took his own sweet time to finish.
Earns a sweet million per year.
Sweetly
(Informal) Sweet potatoes
Candied sweets.
Sweet
In a sweet manner; sweetly.
Sweetly
A sweet dish, such as pudding, served as dessert.
Sweet
Sweet taste or quality; sweetness.
Sweetly
A sweetmeat or confection.
Sweet
Something sweet to the taste.
Sweetly
A dear or beloved person.
Sweet
Foods, such as candy, pastries, puddings, or preserves, that are high in sugar content.
Sweetly
Something pleasing to the mind or feelings.
Sweet
(Informal) Sweet potatoes
Candied sweets.
Sweetly
In a sweet or pleasant manner.
Sweet
A sweet dish, such as pudding, served as dessert.
Sweetly
Nicely; finely; excellently.
Sweet
A sweetmeat or confection.
Sweetly
In a sweet manner.
Sweet
A dear or beloved person.
Sweetly
In an affectionate or loving manner (`sweet' is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of `sweetly');
Susan Hayward plays the wife sharply and sweetly
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank
Talking sweet to each other
Sweet
Something pleasing to the mind or feelings.
Sweet
Having a pleasant taste, especially one relating to the basic taste sensation induced by sugar.
A sweet apple
Sweet
Having a taste of sugar.
Sweet
(wine) Retaining a portion of sugar.
Sweet wines are better dessert wines.
Sweet
Not having a salty taste.
Sweet butter
Sweet
Having a pleasant smell.
A sweet scent
Sweet
Not decaying, fermented, rancid, sour, spoiled, or stale.
Sweet milk
Sweet
Having a pleasant sound.
A sweet tune
Sweet
Having a pleasing disposition.
A sweet child
You're so sweet!
Sweet
Having a helpful disposition.
It was sweet of him to help out.
Sweet
(mineralogy) Free from excessive unwanted substances like acid or sulphur.
Sweet gas
Sweet soil
Sweet crude oil
Sweet
(informal) Very pleasing; agreeable.
The new Lexus was a sweet birthday gift.
Sweet
(slang) Doing well; in a good or happy position.
Sweet
Romantically fixated; enamored with; fond of.
The attraction was mutual and instant; they were sweet on one another from first sight.
Sweet
; not salt or brackish.
Sweet water
Sweet
To the eye; beautiful; mild and attractive; fair.
A sweet face
A sweet colour or complexion
Sweet
An intensifier.
Sweet
Used as a positive response to good news or information.
They're making a sequel? Ah, sweet!
Sweet
In a sweet manner.
Sweet
(uncountable) The basic taste sensation induced by sugar.
Sweet
A confection made from sugar, or high in sugar content; a candy.
Sweet
A food eaten for dessert.
Can we see the sweet menu, please?
Sweet
Synonym of sweetheart, a term of affection.
Good evening, my sweet.
Sweet
(obsolete) That which is sweet or pleasant in odour; a perfume.
Sweet
(obsolete) Sweetness, delight; something pleasant to the mind or senses.
Sweet
To sweeten.
Sweet
Having an agreeable taste or flavor such as that of sugar; saccharine; - opposed to sour and bitter; as, a sweet beverage; sweet fruits; sweet oranges.
Sweet
Pleasing to the smell; fragrant; redolent; balmy; as, a sweet rose; sweet odor; sweet incense.
The breath of these flowers is sweet to me.
Sweet
Pleasing to the ear; soft; melodious; harmonious; as, the sweet notes of a flute or an organ; sweet music; a sweet voice; a sweet singer.
To make his English sweet upon his tongue.
A voice sweet, tremulous, but powerful.
Sweet
Pleasing to the eye; beautiful; mild and attractive; fair; as, a sweet face; a sweet color or complexion.
Sweet interchangeOf hill and valley, rivers, woods, and plains.
Sweet
Fresh; not salt or brackish; as, sweet water.
Sweet
Not changed from a sound or wholesome state. Specifically: (a) Not sour; as, sweet milk or bread. (b) Not state; not putrescent or putrid; not rancid; as, sweet butter; sweet meat or fish.
Sweet
Plaesing to the mind; mild; gentle; calm; amiable; winning; presuasive; as, sweet manners.
Canst thou bind the sweet influence of Pleiades?
Mildness and sweet reasonableness is the one established rule of Christian working.
Sweet
That which is sweet to the taste; - used chiefly in the plural.
Sweet
That which is sweet or pleasant in odor; a perfume.
Sweet
That which is pleasing or grateful to the mind; as, the sweets of domestic life.
A little bitter mingled in our cup leaves no relish of the sweet.
Sweet
One who is dear to another; a darling; - a term of endearment.
Sweet
Sweetly.
Sweet
To sweeten.
Sweet
English phonetician; one of the founders of modern phonetics (1845-1912)
Sweet
A dish served as the last course of a meal
Sweet
A food rich in sugar
Sweet
The taste experience when sugar dissolves in the mouth
Sweet
The property of containing sugar
Sweet
Having a pleasant taste (as of sugar)
Sweet
Having a sweet nature befitting an angel or cherub;
An angelic smile
A cherubic face
Looking so seraphic when he slept
A sweet disposition
Sweet
Pleasing to the ear;
The dulcet tones of the cello
Sweet
One of the four basic taste sensations; very pleasant; like the taste of sugar or honey
Sweet
Pleasing to the senses;
The sweet song of the lark
The sweet face of a child
Sweet
Pleasing to the mind or feeling;
Sweet revenge
Sweet
Having a natural fragrance;
Odoriferous spices
The odorous air of the orchard
The perfumed air of June
Scented flowers
Sweet
(used of wines) having a sweet taste
Sweet
Not soured or preserved;
Sweet milk
Sweet
With sweetening added
Sweet
Not having a salty taste;
Sweet water
Sweet
In an affectionate or loving manner (`sweet' is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of `sweetly');
Susan Hayward plays the wife sharply and sweetly
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank
Talking sweet to each other
Sweet
Having a taste like sugar.
The cake was very sweet.
Sweet
Pleasing in general; delightful.
She has a sweet personality.
Sweet
Not salty, sour, or bitter.
This fruit is perfectly sweet.
Common Curiosities
Is "sweet" an adjective?
Yes, it describes nouns.
Can "sweet" describe a person?
Yes, it can describe endearing qualities.
Can music be described as "sweet"?
Yes, if it has a melodious or pleasing sound.
Does "sweetly" only relate to taste?
No, it describes actions done in a sweet manner.
What does "sweetly" modify in a sentence?
It modifies verbs.
How would you describe someone speaking in a kind tone?
They spoke sweetly.
Can "sweet" refer to a smell?
Yes, a pleasant aroma can be called a sweet smell.
Is "sweetly" used for actions?
Yes, it describes how an action is performed.
Is "sweet" always positive?
Mostly, but context matters. It can be neutral in some cases like describing taste.
Can a beverage be "sweet"?
Yes, if it has a sugary taste.
How would you describe a gentle lullaby?
It's sung sweetly.
Can "sweet" describe feelings?
Yes, like "sweet sorrow."
Can someone smile "sweetly"?
Yes, indicating an endearing or pleasant smile.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
