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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.
Sweet vs. Sweetly — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Sweet and Sweetly

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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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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba 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.

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