as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
painfully she recounted the difficult relationship she had with her mother
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of painfully
Ludo Lefebvre echoed the urgency, pointing to the painfully deliberate pace of the recovery.
—
Michelle Edgar, Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
One of those situations was painfully basic.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
And the story behind these shootings is painfully familiar.
—Myron Rolle, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Brooks painfully discusses discovering Reiner collapsed in his home in June 2020.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Despite Thursday’s release, human rights groups say the overall process remains painfully slow.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
The Edmonton native was on the doorstep twice, only to fall painfully short.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Red Sox are painfully aware of that.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
James was effusive in his praise of both Denver star players Tuesday after the latest clash between the Nuggets and Lakers, two franchises that have grown painfully familiar with each other this decade.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Michelle Edgar, Daily News, 27 Jan. 2026
One of those situations was painfully basic.
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 25 Jan. 2026
And the story behind these shootings is painfully familiar.
—Myron Rolle, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
Brooks painfully discusses discovering Reiner collapsed in his home in June 2020.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Despite Thursday’s release, human rights groups say the overall process remains painfully slow.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
The Edmonton native was on the doorstep twice, only to fall painfully short.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
The Red Sox are painfully aware of that.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
James was effusive in his praise of both Denver star players Tuesday after the latest clash between the Nuggets and Lakers, two franchises that have grown painfully familiar with each other this decade.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painfully
Adverb
-
Following a bitterly cold Wednesday morning, temperatures warm towards 40° on Wednesday afternoon.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Last season ended bitterly; UConn had a tournament-worthy resume, but was left out by the NCAA selectors for the first time since 2017.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
18 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
This should be, but sadly will probably not be, the line that shouldn’t have been crossed.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Discovering the chemicals responsible for smoke taint is, sadly, only half the battle.—
Nicola Twilley,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
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
-
The previously slumping Geekie scored two goals, including the game-winner late in the third period, a shot that was hammered so hard that no one saw the puck go in the net, until Geekie raced down and pointed to where the puck was lodged.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
That history is why Van's post-UFC 324 trolling hits so hard.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 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
Cite this Entry
“Painfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painfully. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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