hurtfully

adverb

as in cruelly

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurtfully
  1. cruelly
  2. harshly
  3. sharply
  4. severely
  5. ill
  6. acutely
  7. poignantly
  8. piercingly
Adverb
  • Rubio did not finish the stage — his Tour cruelly over, just two days before Paris.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • The practice was criticized by advocates and others as cruelly targeting rule followers as low-hanging fruit to meet quotas.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 20 July 2026
Definition of cruelly
Adverb
  • Like other senior bankers, Sehnaoui was harshly criticized following Lebanon's historic economic meltdown in 2019, when most people lost access to their money.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • He was fired, a little harshly, in May 2021 after one season, having delivered a Coppa Italia to go with a fourth-place finish.
    — James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 July 2026
Definition of harshly
Adverb
  • Other South China Sea claimant states use the ruling to justify their own actions—and are sharply denounced by China each time.
    — Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • Stock market futures were positive following the report while Treasury yields were sharply higher.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 30 July 2026
Definition of sharply
Adverb
  • Prioritizing economic return over the broader purpose of education could severely damage foundational academic fields and society itself.
    — Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • But thousands of public comments come from scientists, who warn that the rule, as written, would severely curtail their work treating pediatric cancers, improving maternal health and advancing fundamental research.
    — Lisa Song, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Definition of severely
Adverb
  • In recent years, defense officials have increasingly studied how to harden bases against drone attacks, recognizing that infrastructure built for earlier conflicts is often ill-suited to withstand modern threats.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 21 July 2026
  • But as yesterday’s race showed, the current F1 machinery is utterly ill-suited to this dramatic venue.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026
Definition of ill
Adverb
  • Pre-workout supplements increase energy and athletic performance acutely, while collagen strengthens connective tissue and helps prevent injury over time.
    — Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 29 July 2026
  • Trump is acutely aware of the political pressures Netanyahu faces ahead of Israel’s national election in October, according to officials, and knows his support for the prime minister could be critical.
    — Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
Definition of acutely
Adverb
  • The reunion, poignantly, took place at Charles’s country home, Highgrove House, where Harry spent much of his childhood.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 16 July 2026
  • As Ethan, Stock was as perversely alienating as he was poignantly alienated.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of poignantly
Adverb
  • Chef Steven Pham is still simmering his signature Northern Vietnamese-style pho ga, which features a soul-piercingly clear broth, tender poached chicken, rice noodles, and a floating raft of fresh herbs.
    — Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
  • The Towode Door Stop Alarm is a budget-friendly, highly effective safety tool that functions as a wedge door stop and a piercingly loud alarm when activated.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2026
Definition of piercingly
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.

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hurtful
hurtfully
hurting
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Cite this Entry

“Hurtfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurtfully. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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