Word: justly

Associations

"Justly" is an adverb that means in a way that is morally right or fair. It is often used when talking about actions that are considered correct or deserving of praise.

• Example 1: The judge decided to justly uphold the law. This means the judge made a fair and moral decision in the case.
• Example 2: She was justly rewarded for her hard work. This means her reward was fair because she earned it through her efforts.
• Example 3: The community justly protested against the unfair policies. This means the protest was morally justified due to the unfair treatment.

The synonym "fairly" is similar, but "justly" implies a sense of moral correctness, while "fairly" can simply mean not biased or being equitable without the moral aspect.

Substitution

You could use words like "fairly," "rightfully," or "equally" in some contexts, but they can change the meaning:

• Instead of "justly," you might say "fairly" when something is unbiased, but it won't carry the moral weight of "justly."
• "Rightfully" could be used when someone deserves something, but it doesn’t necessarily imply a moral judgment like "justly."

Deconstruction

"Justly" comes from the root word "just," which means fair or morally right. The suffix "-ly" is added to change the adjective "just" into an adverb, indicating how an action is performed. The root "just" has Latin origins from "justus," meaning "lawful" or "right."

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you were treated justly? What happened?
• How would you explain the concept of fairness to someone who doesn’t understand it?
• In what situations do you believe that being justly treated is especially important?