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"softly" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often gently (6 letters).
Definitions
In a quiet, gentle, or low-volume way.
Word origin
From Middle English softely, softeliche, equivalent to soft + -ly.
Used in a sentence
“The masseuse was rubbing my back too softly for my liking, so I asked her to go harder.”
“He had married a lady well educated and softly nurtured, but not dowered with worldly wealth. […] They would give up ideas of gentle living, of soft raiment, and delicate feeding.”
“whisper softly in someone's ear”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer1 curated clues
01“Quietly”6 letters
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