as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
painfully she recounted the difficult relationship she had with her mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of painfully
That, along with the March trade that sent Sam Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres, would leave them painfully thin down the middle, with little center help coming up through the system.
—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Vientos’ error ultimately led to just one (unearned) run, but the margins are painfully thin for a Mets team that managed only four hits against four Rockies pitchers in Game 1.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
But Quiet Light’s breakthrough feels painfully short-lived.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026
It is almost always preceded by signals that, in hindsight, feel painfully clear.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Europe’s status as a significant importer of oil has left the bloc painfully exposed to the largest energy shock on record — but not all of the continent’s underlying countries, sectors and companies are affected equally.
—Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Here in front of me was the original apparatus through which a new vision of the world was slowly and painfully brought to light.
—Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026
The story follows a seemingly simple blind date that goes wildly, and painfully, off the rails, setting off a chain reaction among a tightly wound group of friends and family members.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Iran views this war as existential, assessing that painfully drawing out the conflict can prevent another return to fighting.
—Alexander Langlois, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Vientos’ error ultimately led to just one (unearned) run, but the margins are painfully thin for a Mets team that managed only four hits against four Rockies pitchers in Game 1.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
But Quiet Light’s breakthrough feels painfully short-lived.
—Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026
It is almost always preceded by signals that, in hindsight, feel painfully clear.
—Nicole Hockley, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Europe’s status as a significant importer of oil has left the bloc painfully exposed to the largest energy shock on record — but not all of the continent’s underlying countries, sectors and companies are affected equally.
—Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 23 Apr. 2026
Here in front of me was the original apparatus through which a new vision of the world was slowly and painfully brought to light.
—Big Think, 23 Apr. 2026
The story follows a seemingly simple blind date that goes wildly, and painfully, off the rails, setting off a chain reaction among a tightly wound group of friends and family members.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Iran views this war as existential, assessing that painfully drawing out the conflict can prevent another return to fighting.
—Alexander Langlois, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painfully
Adverb
-
Mary leaves four children, ages 10 to 17 — and relatives feuding so bitterly that the two families had to go to court to decide where Mary would be laid to rest and two separate memorial services were held.—
Jill Smolowe,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The strike was fought bitterly on both sides.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
If the Premier League’s bottom club hoped to draw a symbolic line under their season from hell with the confirmation of relegation from the Premier League, they were left sadly disappointed by events at Molineux in the first game since their fate was sealed.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Stage star Kelli Barrett, as Bertie, is given far less to work with, sadly.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 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
-
Aerate compacted and hard-to-wet lawns.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
King Charles' younger sister is known for her tireless drive for royal duty, often ranked among the royal family's hardest-working members by count of official engagements recorded in The Court Circular.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
25 Apr. 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 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
