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beileibe

by no means; not at all

adverb by-LY-be Rare
Communication Expressions

Also means

certainly not

Usage Note

Beileibe is used almost exclusively in negative constructions — beileibe nicht ('by no means') — to emphatically deny something. It is more emphatic than keineswegs and has a slightly elevated, literary tone. Learned speakers use it for rhetorical emphasis in argument.

Examples

"Das ist beileibe nicht der einzige Grund für die Krise."

Natural Translation

That is by no means the only reason for the crisis.

Literal Translation

That is by no means the only reason for the crisis.

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