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 Biggest Controversy Right, back to the awards and, sadly, a few contenders for this category. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 Still, several popular chains have sadly evaded the KC metro. — Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026 The Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office confirmed to NBC10 Boston and WCVB on Wednesday, July 15 that the driver involved in the crash had sadly died. — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026 The bucket hat was already coming in handy, but sadly, the tops of my legs that weren’t covered by my shorts were suffering within minutes. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 15 July 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
  • There were riots, protests and a bitterly divisive war in Vietnam that looked intractable.
    — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
  • With a goalkeeping howler and a red card, Marcelo Bielsa’s side self-imploded at the end of a bitterly disappointing tournament.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 3 July 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
  • In the cycle event, Keegan fell off his bike and landed very painfully.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 25 July 2026
  • The United States learned that lesson painfully after the fall of Baghdad in 2003, when removing an opposing government did not produce the stable political outcome American leaders sought.
    — David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 22 July 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
  • Countries in Asia have been the hardest hit by Iran’s effective closure of the strait, a critical route for about 60% of the region’s energy supply.
    — Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • The short summer nights (and this week’s first quarter moon) may make faint aurora harder to see, with lingering twilight reducing the contrast required to spot a glow low on the northern horizon.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 21 July 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 27 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of sadly for Spanish Speakers

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