as in sorrowfully
with feelings of bitterness or grief
cried bitterly after her grandmother died
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Recent Examples of bitterly
The approval comes as the parties are fighting bitterly over the policies of the Department of Homeland Security, leading to a funding lapse that is now in its 34th day.
—
Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
The bitterly cold wind chills will linger through the morning commute, then gradually improve this afternoon as winds ease and temperatures climb.
—Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
Segel makes Dan a bitterly perceptive geek, out of his depth but eager to prove himself, while Weaving invests Lisa with a snappishness that only camouflages her pain.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Aside from the merits of the bills, Republicans and Democrats argued bitterly last week over the length of public hearings.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
Snow began to fall at dark, and the night was bitterly cold.
—Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
The play unfolds as a series of battles, where the unaccomplished George and the bitterly disappointed Martha exchange vicious and demeaning insults, using Nick and Honey as the unsuspecting pawns in their war for supremacy.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
East Coast finally welcomes the warmth The East Coast is finally seeing some warm weather after a bitterly cold winter.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
Issa bitterly but regretfully prepares for the inevitable showdown.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Arkansas Online, 20 Mar. 2026
The bitterly cold wind chills will linger through the morning commute, then gradually improve this afternoon as winds ease and temperatures climb.
—Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
Segel makes Dan a bitterly perceptive geek, out of his depth but eager to prove himself, while Weaving invests Lisa with a snappishness that only camouflages her pain.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Aside from the merits of the bills, Republicans and Democrats argued bitterly last week over the length of public hearings.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 15 Mar. 2026
Snow began to fall at dark, and the night was bitterly cold.
—Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
The play unfolds as a series of battles, where the unaccomplished George and the bitterly disappointed Martha exchange vicious and demeaning insults, using Nick and Honey as the unsuspecting pawns in their war for supremacy.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
East Coast finally welcomes the warmth The East Coast is finally seeing some warm weather after a bitterly cold winter.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 9 Mar. 2026
Issa bitterly but regretfully prepares for the inevitable showdown.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bitterly
Adverb
-
Tarun would tease her, and my mother would look sorrowfully toward Kavitha, as if the two of them now shared some womanly burden.—
Madhuri Vijay,
New Yorker,
16 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
But, sadly, sometimes people do go leak classified information in those big settings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Ride sadly passed away July 23, 2012, at the age of 61, following a battle with a terminal illness.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
For their part, Democratic leaders spoke mournfully of limits, of energy shortages, of national decline, of a crisis of confidence itself.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
Based on the Dylan Thomas prose poem of the same name, published in 1952, the film lovingly and mournfully depicts the boyhood Christmastime of an old Welshman, tenderly and a tad mischievously embodied by Elliott.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
21 Nov. 2025
Adverb
-
His answer is almost painfully endearing.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Both seasons were painfully funny (often just painful), but the humor sometimes got lost as time has proven even its most over-the-top bits eerily correct.—
Jennifer Silverman,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
They are being hit so hard, anybody would be negotiating.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
There is serious concern that a stoppage that costs games could dampen the enthusiasm the sport worked hard to rebuild.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bitterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterly. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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