as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
sadly she told us how her dog died
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sadly
For those of us who celebrate Kwanzaa, that typically means the kinara and sadly the seven principles of the holiday are also stored away and rarely discussed for the next 11 months.
—
Essence, 2 Jan. 2026
Though it was sadly snubbed at the Academy Awards, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart is still a breathtaking directorial debut.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
But, sadly, the symptoms continued.
—Lisa Vernon-Sparks, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
There was sadly no chance for Soundgarden to stage a complete reunion, but drummer Matt Cameron, guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassists Ben Shepherd and Hiro Yamamoto were all on hand to honor the late Chris Cornell.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadly
Essence, 2 Jan. 2026
Though it was sadly snubbed at the Academy Awards, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart is still a breathtaking directorial debut.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
But, sadly, the symptoms continued.
—Lisa Vernon-Sparks, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025
There was sadly no chance for Soundgarden to stage a complete reunion, but drummer Matt Cameron, guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassists Ben Shepherd and Hiro Yamamoto were all on hand to honor the late Chris Cornell.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sadly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadly
Adverb
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Its inhabitants were left without light or heat during a bitterly cold polar vortex, with temperatures as low as 2 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
5 Jan. 2026
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Hasina was bitterly criticized by both her opponents and independent critics for sending Zia to jail.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Dec. 2025
Adverb
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Inspired by a 2017 Los Angeles Time article about a San Gabriel Valley tragedy, director Eric Lin’s heartbreaking feature painfully reminds us of the need to get help and how mental health issues within Asian cultures need to be destigmatized.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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By Sunday, he was gone, a mercifully swift ending to painfully slow decline.—
Scott Maxwell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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The polite way to decline an invite to a wedding is to wish them well, thank them for inviting you and regretfully decline.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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For the role of Desmond, Wilder turned to Swanson, who in real life had also once existed among Hollywood’s loftiest ranks at the height of her career during the Silent Era of the 1920s and '30s, but had gradually — but not regretfully — followed other directions when her stardom waned.—
Scott Huver,
People.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Alexandria has been really hard hit, down 50% in that period.—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
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For instance, walking most days is far better than exercising hard once a month.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
6 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sadly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadly. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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