as in sorrowfully
with feelings of bitterness or grief
cried bitterly after her grandmother died
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Recent Examples of bitterly
After Adele and her mother had fought, bitterly, about her decision to keep the baby, and then more bitterly about her refusal to find Jamie in Florida and demand child support, Bromley invited her to live with him while things cooled down at home.
—
Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
During the Nullification Crisis of 1831–1833, partisan journalists had a major role in framing the issue and were bitterly opposed to one another, especially in South Carolina.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
On February 20, 1933, a bitterly cold winter day, President Hoover had laid the cornerstone of the new archives.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Players and owners fought bitterly about how many games should be played during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, settling on 60 games.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 12 May 2026
But Starmer has been reluctant to reopen a debate that bitterly divided the country.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Several thousand navvies worked on the railway, living in makeshift camps, and many died in accidents, or from exposure and disease in the bitterly cold winters.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 3 May 2026
Advertisement The election was among the most bitterly contested in history, with no clear winner and both parties claiming victory.
—Fergus M. Bordewich, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
The seconds that followed our spill into Missinaibi’s bitterly cold waters were confused.
—Jim Hoagland, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
During the Nullification Crisis of 1831–1833, partisan journalists had a major role in framing the issue and were bitterly opposed to one another, especially in South Carolina.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026
On February 20, 1933, a bitterly cold winter day, President Hoover had laid the cornerstone of the new archives.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Players and owners fought bitterly about how many games should be played during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, settling on 60 games.
—Evan Drellich, New York Times, 12 May 2026
But Starmer has been reluctant to reopen a debate that bitterly divided the country.
—Jill Lawless, Fortune, 11 May 2026
Several thousand navvies worked on the railway, living in makeshift camps, and many died in accidents, or from exposure and disease in the bitterly cold winters.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 3 May 2026
Advertisement The election was among the most bitterly contested in history, with no clear winner and both parties claiming victory.
—Fergus M. Bordewich, Time, 30 Apr. 2026
The seconds that followed our spill into Missinaibi’s bitterly cold waters were confused.
—Jim Hoagland, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 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
-
When Manny Fernandez passed away quietly at age 79 this week at his home in a small Georgia town called Ellaville, a subtle-yet-seismic shift occurred — mostly symbolic, but still sadly notable.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
27 May 2026
-
Remarkably, sadly, the world is silent.—
Michael Arkush,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Adverb
-
Things are getting hot in Kayce's love life, even after the widower mournfully visits the East Camp memorial to his beloved wife, Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
-
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
Adverb
-
Many are now unlearning that belief—slowly, painfully.—
Jasmine Browley,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Retail giants and small firms alike say refunds are crucial for cutting prices, paying debts and staying afloat, even as many complain that payments are arriving painfully slowly.—
Mae Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Adverb
-
Many cities and school districts are trying hard to line up job opportunities for young people.—
Dianna Douglas,
NPR,
6 June 2026
-
With his gregarious nature and hard-drinking demeanor, Lobo is an intimidating extraterrestrial mercenary and bounty hunter, but his origin story is brutal, even by those standards.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bitterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bitterly. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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