achingly

adverb

ach·​ing·​ly ˈā-kiŋ-lē How to pronounce achingly (audio)
1
: in an aching manner
achingly sad songs
2
: extremely, exceedingly
achingly complicated

Examples of achingly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The final achingly exquisite touch was a pearl button that fastened the strap. Lyn Slater, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2024 The pace is achingly slow, and the short story feels stretched over eight long episodes. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 With Cotton and Rye, Shultz created a warm industrial space in which to savor elevated comfort foods that seem both achingly familiar and entirely new with each bite. Usa Today Network, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024 The vulnerability of the planet remains achingly urgent. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 12 Feb. 2024 If the moment-to-moment meaning of the scene sometimes requires guesswork, the love story at the heart of the tale is achingly clear. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024 Shot on digital, but lit to look like a classic Disney nature feature — in a nod to an era when studios were routinely making movies about wild animals — the widescreen film manages to be achingly beautiful at times. Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 Jan. 2024 It’s been almost four years since George Floyd was murdered here at 38th Street and Chicago Avenue, a South Minneapolis corner anchored by a convenience store, its red awning still achingly familiar from once-saturating news coverage. Usha Lee McFarling, STAT, 12 Jan. 2024 Though some of Wikipedia’s contributors manipulate the platform, just as Lerner’s avatar did in his worst moments, the vast majority of us are shrewd, delightful, and ordinary people operating in achingly good faith. Jordan Castro, Harper's Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'achingly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

aching + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of achingly was in 1765

Dictionary Entries Near achingly

Cite this Entry

“Achingly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/achingly. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!