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 Despite being predators, these individuals are sadly no match for humans. — New Atlas, 20 Aug. 2026 Our teammate, friend and Captain Preston sadly passed away last evening. — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 Ice Princess saw Panettiere feature opposite fellow child star Michelle Trachtenberg, who sadly passed away in 2025 at the age of 39. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 17 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 See All Example Sentences for sadly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sadly
  1. bitterly
  2. sorrowfully
  3. painfully
  4. regretfully
  5. mournfully
  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
  • History shows that trade imbalances of this scale almost always end painfully—and that the pain of the adjustment is not distributed evenly.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
  • No Me Arrepiento is more defined by a slow burn of emotions, beautifully and painfully put into words.
    — Leila Cobo, Billboard, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of painfully
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
  • 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
  • Some days, trying harder just gives the problem more opportunities to annoy you.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • General Daily Insight for September 01, 2026 Some days, trying harder just gives the problem more opportunities to annoy you.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 1 Sep. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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