as in sadly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
I must regretfully inform you that you are not among those who have been accepted for our internship program
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Recent Examples of regretfully
Next to him sits Saban, who seems to be looking off regretfully into space.
—
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
The new city manager, who makes a fraction of her predecessor, has regretfully received some very ugly messages.
—Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 18 June 2024
Your email included a list of insecticides used that do give control but regretfully not all the pests are eliminated.
—Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 15 June 2024
Colin has been rather bland in the first two seasons, and regretfully Newton's performance hasn't done much to give him life.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 16 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for regretfully
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2024
The new city manager, who makes a fraction of her predecessor, has regretfully received some very ugly messages.
—Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 18 June 2024
Your email included a list of insecticides used that do give control but regretfully not all the pests are eliminated.
—Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 15 June 2024
Colin has been rather bland in the first two seasons, and regretfully Newton's performance hasn't done much to give him life.
—Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 16 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for regretfully
Recent Examples of Synonyms for regretfully
Adverb
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But sadly, the no-muss, no-fuss era of a single must-have national rail pass is over.—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Sep. 2025
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But sadly, after many rescue attempts, BSC closed for good in 2024, unable to overcome the financial issues that had plagued the school for decades.—
Katherine Polcari,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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Tom’s final epiphany related to his estranged son isn’t earned, but not because of Ruffalo; his performance cuts a fine line between bitterly self-destructive and warmly spiritual.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
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San Francisco officials fought bitterly against Waymo and now-defunct Cruise robotaxis from General Motors, after their vehicles repeatedly blocked traffic and emergency vehicles, with Cruise the main perpetrator.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
5 Sep. 2025
Adverb
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There is a painfully revealing example in Emma where Miss Bates is telling Emma about Jane Fairfax’s prospects as a governess to the Sucklings’ friends the Smallridges.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Sep. 2025
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My day in court is painfully overdue.—
Stephanie Wenger,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Regretfully.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/regretfully. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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