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sadly

sadly

53 1.0
In an unhappy way because you feel upset
  • adverb
  • /ˈsædli/
translation icon : tristemente
  • She looked at the empty chair and sighed, sadly recalling their happy times together.
  • say sadly
  • shake one's head sadly

But I know Victoria, who sadly is dead now.

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Examples

  • My mother told me this story sadly when I was in my teens.

    Academic text (2014)
  • And for that, we should all express our sincere gratitude to the man whose loss we are sadly mourning today.

  • And I see this, sadly, all the time.

  • One of them was sadly a disaster.

  • But I know Victoria, who sadly is dead now.

  • Without Charlie, history would be hugely and sadly different.

  • And when you are experiencing acute grief, sadly the only way out is through.

  • "No," she shakes her head sadly, "all the universities are closed now."

    Academic text (2006)
  • "We can manage without you," Joshua smiled sadly, amazed at the calm that had come over him.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Terence worked at Hansard by day and Heaven by night before he sadly died of AIDS.

Synonyms

unfortunately
vssadly
2.9

Shows that something is sad or unlucky

is used to express a personal feeling rather than report bad luck
unhappily
vssadly
15 1.3

In a sad or regretful way

is a general, neutral way to show low mood rather than unlucky events
regretfully
vssadly
  • Formal
13 3.8

Saying something while feeling sorry, often when you tell bad news

is a simple emotional statement rather than a formal apology expression
ruefully
vssadly
11 6.9

In a way that shows you feel sorry about something you did

is a plain feeling expression rather than ironic or self aware regret
tearfully
vssadly
9 3.2

With tears to show that someone feels sad

is used more broadly to show feeling without visible tears
glumly
vssadly
6 5.8

In a sad, quiet way that shows someone is unhappy

is a neutral expression of feeling rather than sullen or sulky tone
pitifully
vssadly
6 3.3

In a way that makes people feel sorry for someone or something

is a basic expression of feeling rather than one that invites sympathy
mournfully
vssadly
4 4.7

In a sad way that shows grief

is a more general expression of unhappiness rather than intense grief
pathetically
vssadly
4 5.1

In a way that makes people feel pity and want to help

is a direct feeling expression rather than an appeal that seeks sympathy
plaintively
vssadly
4 6.7

In a sad, soft way that sounds like crying

is a general way to express unhappiness without pleading tone
somberly
vssadly
  • US
3 5.5

In a serious and sad way

is lighter and more common for everyday unhappy feeling
gloomily
vssadly
3 4.1

In a sad way that shows no hope

is a simpler expression of feeling without the strong pessimism element
dismally
vssadly
3 4.8

In a gloomy way that makes people feel sad or hopeless

is a general way to show feeling without implying widespread failure
forlornly
vssadly
3 7.4

In a sad, lonely way as if left alone

is a general way to show unhappiness without the strong loneliness aspect
bleakly
vssadly
2 6.2

In a way that shows no hope or cheer

is a gentler way to show feeling without the strong hopeless expectation
dejectedly
vssadly
2 6.5

In a sad, disappointed way

is a more general way to show unhappiness without specific disappointment
sorrowfully
vssadly
1 4.6

In a sad way that shows a person is sorry

is a more general, less intense way to show that feeling
despairingly
vssadly
1 6.1

In a way that shows no hope

is a more ordinary expression of feeling rather than absolute hopelessness
dolefully
vssadly
1 7.2

In a sad way that shows you are unhappy

is a plain way of showing feeling rather than solemn expression
disconsolately
vssadly
  • Literature
1 8.5

In a very sad way that shows no comfort or hope

is a more neutral way to show feeling rather than uncomforted distress
despondently
vssadly
1 7.3

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

is a general way to show unhappiness without the specific lost hope element
piteously
vssadly
  • Literature
1 7.1

In a sad way that makes people feel sorry

is a more private expression of feeling rather than openly asking care
sobbingly
vssadly
1 8.3

In a way that shows someone crying with short noisy breaths

is used when feeling is shown quietly rather than by loud crying
desolately
vssadly
1 7.5

In a way that shows great loneliness and sadness

is a simpler expression of feeling rather than intense isolation and emptiness
dolorously
vssadly
  • Literature
9.9

In a very sad way

is a general expression of feeling rather than focused pain
melancholically
vssadly
7.7

In a sad and thoughtful way

is more neutral and brief rather than deep, reflective feeling
lugubriously
vssadly
  • Literature
9.1

In a very sad, gloomy way

is a common, simpler way to show feeling rather than dramatic display
weepingly
vssadly
7.4

In a way that shows tears and deep sadness

is a general way to show feeling without obvious crying
tearily
vssadly
4.9

In a way that shows someone is crying

is a neutral way to show the same feeling without visible tears

Antonyms

11 1.1

In a very happy way that shows delight

How Sad

mournfully
4 4.7
sorrowfully
1 4.6
sadly
53 1.0

Surface Forms

sadly positive

Morphology

sadly = sad (transparent) = sad + ly

Formed by the adjective 'sad' + the productive adverbial suffix '-ly', yielding the literal meaning 'in a sad manner' that learners can derive.

Etymology

Sadly is made from sad + -ly, literally 'in a sad way'. The root sad means 'sorrowful', so sadly describes doing something with sadness.