as in cruelly
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurtfully
Adverb
-
Ray can be cruelly withholding.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026 -
In order for Sophie to live a comfortable life, Araminta hires her as an unpaid maid and treats her pretty cruelly compared to her daughers Posy and Rosamund.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The plaintiffs allege that Black employees in the office were disciplined more harshly than their colleagues, denied accommodations and subjected to escalating retaliation after raising concerns about Johnson’s leadership.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Mendonça was born in 1968, in the early years of a ruthless military dictatorship—a time when cinema, like much else, was harshly constrained.—
Stephania Taladrid,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
Miami also bounced back sharply, jumping 82 percent to 40 sales, while London slipped to seventh place with just 35 deals.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
5 Feb. 2026
-
If the states don’t reach a deal, federal officials could sharply cut Arizona’s water starting next year, and at that point, a lawsuit is likely, Buschatzke said.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
It was severely dehydrated and sluggish.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Longtime Milford residents Theresa Covaleski and Scott Digris said that Irene severely damaged their shoreline house on Lawrence Court.—
Maleena Muzio,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
The conduct of those two agents, from the earliest moments interacting with demonstrators up through their decision to pull weapons and fire at Pretti, illustrate the dangers of flooding American cities with officers ill-equipped to deal with protesters in urban environments, experts told CNN.—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
While John is overjoyed to see his free-spirited cousin, who drove her carriage from Scotland after her coachman fell ill, Francesca appears noticeably shaken by Michaela’s unexpected visit.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Beijing has already cast that US posture – seen most acutely in the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro – as a form of imperialism and bullying.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The threat is felt so acutely that fascists are led to take joy in cruelty against those outside this group, and others who stand to benefit from greater equality.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Two chairs were poignantly left empty in the ceremony space to honor Will's parents.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
27 Jan. 2026
-
This solid resin, used to embalm the dead and as a painkiller (mixed with wine), poignantly foreshadowed Jesus' sacrificial destiny.—
Nadia Cantú,
AZCentral.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
His lashes are long, the eyes deep-set, large and intense, staring piercingly into you.—
Touré,
Rolling Stone,
14 Oct. 2025
-
How could the woman who wrote so piercingly about women’s subjugation subjugate herself to not just one but two men?—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
12 Oct. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Hurtfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurtfully. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
