VERBS

be, seem, sound
become

ADV

extremely, very
strictly
Learning was by rote and strictly formal
almost
The greeting was polite, almost formal
fairly, quite, rather, relatively
oddly
Her words sounded oddly formal
stiffly
His manner was stiffly formal

VERBS

be

ADV

merely, purely
Getting approval for the plan is a purely formal matter: nobody will seriously oppose it
largely
The monarch retains largely formal duties