sadly

adverb

ˈsad-lē How to pronounce sadly (audio)
Definition of sadlynext
as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief sadly she told us how her dog died

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 sadly The bears were getting thinned out in Mississippi, and the wilderness was sadly reduced. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 Just as Wolvie is hot on their trail, he’s impaled by a harpoon and the demo sadly comes to an end. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 But there is one major feature that has sadly been lost elsewhere. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026 Growing up, Schoenbrun sadly got used to seeing negative portrayals of trans characters in films. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sadly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadly
  1. bitterly
  2. sorrowfully
  3. painfully
  4. mournfully
  5. regretfully
  6. hard
Adverb
  • District 4 The District 4 race between Sharry Kimmel, of Parkland, and Nicole Morst, of Coral Springs, has turned into one of the most bitterly contested, with both candidates questioning the honesty of their opponent.
    — Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Many clergy bitterly opposed the handover of the villages and criticized Pashinyan, who came to power in the South Caucasus nation amid a wave of hopeful, pro-democracy protests that swept Armenia in 2018.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of bitterly
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
Definition of sorrowfully
Adverb
  • Argentina’s race for a second consecutive World Cup title ended painfully this summer, with Spain beating Lionel Messi and the defending champions 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium.
    — Asli Pelit, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Bethany, whose interactions with Anna thus far have been painfully awkward and obliviously rude, decides to confide in the ranger.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of painfully
Adverb
  • Mayfield watched mournfully in his kitchen while the rest of the family sat in the living room with the big screen next to a Christmas tree.
    — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • So is the moment early in the film when Mary mournfully looks on as her long-ago home faces demolition to make room for a big, featureless residential complex.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2026
Definition of mournfully
Adverb
  • Their reports explained regretfully that the confrontation had prevented two officers from receiving awards for shooting burglars.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Issa bitterly but regretfully prepares for the inevitable showdown.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of regretfully
Adverb
  • Miroshnichenko competes hard and doesn’t shy from physical play.
    — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Now, rising protectionism and inflation have made growth harder for global e-commerce platforms.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of hard

Browse Nearby Words

sadistic
sadly
sadness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sadly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sadly. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sadly for Spanish Speakers

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