1
as in sadly
with feelings of bitterness or grief
our company president, who is retiring at the end of the year, will be sorely missed
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2
as in terribly
to a great degree
completed some sorely needed repairs to the boat
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Recent Examples of sorely
In this retiree state with much smarts and experience but sorely values-twisted by years of lopsided Republican rule under Govs.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Their new book, lovingly published by Fonograf, comprises sorely needed reprints of their first three books—The Irony of the Leash, A Fresh Young Voice from the Plains, and Sappho’s Boat—along with Bird Watching, written in 1978 but emerging wet behind the ears in print for the first time.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
The silver speed machine was one of the fastest cars of its era and features the kind of engine that’s been sorely missing from the Audi lineup since the R8 was discontinued in 2024.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 May 2026
The work Corban does today — speaking internationally, advocating for treating assault survivors with empathy instead of skepticism and working in development and marketing for a victims’ center — is sorely needed.
—Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sorely
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 May 2026
Their new book, lovingly published by Fonograf, comprises sorely needed reprints of their first three books—The Irony of the Leash, A Fresh Young Voice from the Plains, and Sappho’s Boat—along with Bird Watching, written in 1978 but emerging wet behind the ears in print for the first time.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
The silver speed machine was one of the fastest cars of its era and features the kind of engine that’s been sorely missing from the Audi lineup since the R8 was discontinued in 2024.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 May 2026
The work Corban does today — speaking internationally, advocating for treating assault survivors with empathy instead of skepticism and working in development and marketing for a victims’ center — is sorely needed.
—Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sorely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sorely
Adverb
-
David Smith, one of the former owners, reports that despite its wild popularity, the original cake recipe sadly got lost.—
Nancy Vienneau,
Southern Living,
17 May 2026
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Hüller is having a hell of a year, winning the Silver Bear for her role as a woman passing herself off as a male soldier to claim an estate in Rose, and playing the wry, sadly pragmatic head of the international task force in Project Hail Mary, one of the biggest hits of the year.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
Adverb
-
Second, the only games the Spurs have lost in this series are when either Wemby has played terribly or gotten thrown out of the game.—
Geoff Clark OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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But even doing very little can still go terribly wrong.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
15 May 2026
Adverb
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But Starmer has been reluctant to reopen a debate that bitterly divided the country.—
Jill Lawless,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
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Several thousand navvies worked on the railway, living in makeshift camps, and many died in accidents, or from exposure and disease in the bitterly cold winters.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
3 May 2026
Adverb
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But even Black athletes whose athleticism gifted them an extremely exclusive express lane in life can tell you stories about growing up a minority in America, or tales their parents or grandparents have told.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
The theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED) suggests that when light at extremely high intensities interacts with the vacuum, it can be converted into matter.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 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
-
Duren severely underperformed in the postseason after having a career year.—
Hunter Patterson,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
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And because harpies rely on large emergent trees for nesting and an extensive, continuous canopy for hunting, even partial deforestation will severely disrupt their ability to breed and forage.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Adverb
-
This has most painfully affected public-school teachers.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
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The Connecticut Sun hoped this season would be different from its dismal record in 2025, but the team’s performance in its 2026 opener against the New York Liberty on Friday night felt painfully familiar.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
Adverb
-
As college athletic departments desperately look for money to pay mostly football and men’s basketball players, dumping a golf, tennis, track or swimming and diving program is an easy way to help with the budget.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
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With the bye week landing in October, the Bills will desperately need a chance to regroup after that gantlet through the holidays.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sorely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sorely. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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