as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
sadly she told us how her dog died
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sadly
This year’s Super Bowl, sadly, is shaping up to be more of the same.
—
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
It’s located right in the center of Federal Hill, the city’s Italian district, where my dad’s favorite restaurant, Joe Marzilli’s Old Canteen, has sadly closed, but other great options—try Cassarino’s for classic red sauce dining—abound.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
In a photo released to the public, the white truck had a (sadly obscured) California license plate, an equipment rack mounted in the bed, as well as a black Fox Racing tailgate cover.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Feb. 2026
Victoria won three Grammys at the 2024 awards ceremony — Best New Artist, Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical — but sadly, the category Hazel was in didn't earn the mother-daughter duo a golden gramophone.
—Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sadly
Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
It’s located right in the center of Federal Hill, the city’s Italian district, where my dad’s favorite restaurant, Joe Marzilli’s Old Canteen, has sadly closed, but other great options—try Cassarino’s for classic red sauce dining—abound.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
In a photo released to the public, the white truck had a (sadly obscured) California license plate, an equipment rack mounted in the bed, as well as a black Fox Racing tailgate cover.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 Feb. 2026
Victoria won three Grammys at the 2024 awards ceremony — Best New Artist, Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical — but sadly, the category Hazel was in didn't earn the mother-daughter duo a golden gramophone.
—Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sadly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadly
Adverb
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The union had bitterly opposed Newsom in his race.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
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On these bitterly cold winter days, nothing sounds better than defrosting in a sauna.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Feb. 2026
Adverb
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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
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Ludo Lefebvre echoed the urgency, pointing to the painfully deliberate pace of the recovery.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
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One of those situations was painfully basic.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
25 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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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
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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
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The polite way to decline an invite to a wedding is to wish them well, thank them for inviting you and regretfully decline.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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For the role of Desmond, Wilder turned to Swanson, who in real life had also once existed among Hollywood’s loftiest ranks at the height of her career during the Silent Era of the 1920s and '30s, but had gradually — but not regretfully — followed other directions when her stardom waned.—
Scott Huver,
People.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Some teens worry that relying on AI for emotional support could make real conversations harder.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
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And some may not get on the ballot — each candidate must gather 500 legitimate voter signatures by March 4, which is relatively easy in citywide races but harder in council districts.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sadly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadly. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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