forlornly

3 7.4

In a sad, lonely way as if left alone

adverb
/fɔrˈlɔrnli/

: desoladamente

The dog sat forlornly at the door, waiting for its owner to come home.
sat forlornly
stood forlornly
looked forlornly

He calmly and forlornly leaves her apartment, and as he is at the door she calls him back in to come feel the baby moving inside of her, and he gently does.

Examples

Singing Wolf dropped his head, staring forlornly at the new spring grasses.

Fiction book (1990)
Lila looks down the street and sees dozens of lonely-looking people peering forlornly in warmly lit windows.

Fiction book (2001)
"Baby okay?" He looked forlornly up at Frank, big and blocking the setting sun.

Fiction book (1999)
Only the tall concrete column rose forlornly in its center.

Fiction book (1996)
No problem there, Marissa thought forlornly, especially if Robert continued to sleep in the guest room.

Fiction book (1991)
Walter walks backward toward the kitchen, looking forlornly at the cat.

Fiction book (1995)
Jerry stared forlornly into the backyard, as if he were outside the house looking in.

Fiction book (1999)
The door had been ripped from its hinges and hung forlornly to the side.

Fiction book (1991)
A dented, ancient smoke machine squats forlornly in the middle of the set.

Fiction book (1995)
Understandably, Floyd's demeanor worsened as he sat forlornly on the front steps.

Academic text (2006)

Synonyms

hopelessly

vsforlornly

60 3.7

In a way that shows no chance of success

adds visible sad loneliness and a sense of abandonment to hopelessness

sadly

vsforlornly

53 1.0

In an unhappy way because you feel upset

conveys added lonely abandonment and hopeless misery beyond plain sadness

unhappily

vsforlornly

15 1.3

In a sad or regretful way

adds specific lonely abandonment and hopeless misery to general unhappiness

glumly

vsforlornly

6 5.8

In a sad, quiet way that shows someone is unhappy

places more weight on lonely abandonment and hopeless misery than sullen unhappiness

mournfully

vsforlornly

4 4.7

In a sad way that shows grief

brings more lonely abandonment and hopeless misery than plain grief

gloomily

vsforlornly

3 4.1

In a sad way that shows no hope

focuses more on lonely abandonment and personal hopeless misery than general gloom

dismally

vsforlornly

3 4.8

In a gloomy way that makes people feel sad or hopeless

adds personal sad loneliness and abandonment to the general gloom

morosely

vsforlornly

2 7.2

In a sad, gloomy way

adds clear lonely abandonment and hopeless misery beyond mere sullen gloom

abjectly

vsforlornly

Formal

2 8.1

In a very sad, ashamed, and helpless way

emphasizes lonely abandonment and deep miserable sadness over resignation

dejectedly

vsforlornly

2 6.5

In a sad, disappointed way

adds deeper lonely abandonment and hopelessness beyond simple disappointment

sorrowfully

vsforlornly

1 4.6

In a sad way that shows a person is sorry

adds lonely abandoned misery and hopelessness beyond simple regretful sorrow

despairingly

vsforlornly

1 6.1

In a way that shows no hope

adds isolated loneliness and abandoned misery beyond general despair

despondently

vsforlornly

1 7.3

In a sad, hopeless way that shows you have lost hope

combines that hopelessness with a stronger sense of lonely abandonment

disconsolately

vsforlornly

Literature

1 8.5

In a very sad way that shows no comfort or hope

leans more toward lonely abandonment and helpless misery than lack of comfort

drearily

vsforlornly

1 5.4

In a boring, gloomy way that shows little energy

carries stronger lonely abandonment and hopeless misery rather than dull boredom

dolefully

vsforlornly

1 7.2

In a sad way that shows you are unhappy

includes isolation and hopeless abandonment more than mere plaintive sorrow

desolately

vsforlornly

1 7.5

In a way that shows great loneliness and sadness

focuses more on sad loneliness and hopeless misery than mere abandonment

lonesomely

vsforlornly

6.3

In a quiet way that shows someone is by themselves and sad

adds hopeless misery and deep sadness to mere social isolation

cheerlessly

vsforlornly

6.5

In a sad, tired way with little energy

adds lonely abandonment and hopeless misery rather than mere lack of cheer

dolorously

vsforlornly

Literature

9.9

In a very sad way

focuses more on lonely abandonment and hopeless misery than on pain

lugubriously

vsforlornly

Literature

9.1

In a very sad, gloomy way

is more about quiet lonely abandonment and hopeless misery than showy sorrow

Antonyms

cheerfully

34 1.0

In a happy, friendly way that shows you want to help

joyfully

11 1.1

In a very happy way that shows delight

How Sad

desperately

366 3.6

forlornly

3 7.4

miserably

51 2.2

sadly

53 1.0

Surface Forms

forlornly positive

Morphology

forlornly = forlorn (transparent) = forlorn + ly

Standard adverbial formation from the adjective 'forlorn' using the productive suffix '-ly' yields the expected manner meaning.

Etymology

Forlornly comes from old English parts for- meaning 'completely' and lorn meaning 'lost'. So, to act forlornly is to seem 'completely lost', very sad and alone.