EN

Synonyms for sadly

  • adverb

Most common

unfortunately regrettably sad to say regretfully sorrowfully ruefully lamentably

Synonyms by meaning

Adverb

1. Unfortunately — unfortunately, sad to say

unfortunately, regrettably, sad to say, regretfully

2. Sorrowfully — in a sad manner; sorrowfully

sorrowfully, ruefully, mournfully, heavily

3. Lamentably

lamentably, woefully, deplorably

Other

unhappily, dolefully

Antonyms

happily, gladly, joyfully

All antonyms of sadly →

Definitions

  1. adv. 1

    In a sad manner; sorrowfully.

    “Only when we climb up can we see it,” he said sadly.

  2. adv. 2

    Unfortunately, sad to say.

    Sadly, the two were never to meet again.

  3. adv. 3

    In a manner to cause sadness; badly; terribly.

Example sentences

  • unfortunately Unfortunately, my teachers are not the worst ones.
  • regrettably Gunter regrettably gave Amelia a key to his apartment.
  • regretfully I regretfully admit that I don't love you anymore.
  • ruefully John smiled rather ruefully.
  • sorrowfully The sons sorrowfully buried their parents.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
sadlyrising
unfortunatelyfalling
regrettablysteady
regretfullysteady
ruefullyrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

7 letters
heavily3
8 letters
woefully3, ruefully3
9 letters
unhappily4, dolefully
10 letters
mournfully, lamentably, deplorably
11 letters
regrettably4, regretfully4, sorrowfully
13 letters
unfortunately5

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (heavily3 = 3 syllables).

In other languages

Français
tristement
Español
tristemente