sorely

adverb

sore·​ly ˈsȯr-lē 

1

: in a sore manner : painfully

2

: very, extremely

sorely needed changes

Synonyms

• agonizingly
• bitterly
• dolefully
• dolorously
• grievously
• hard
• hardly
• inconsolably
• lugubriously
• mournfully
• painfully
• plaintively
• regretfully
• resentfully
• ruefully
• sadly
• sorrowfully
• unhappily
• wailfully
• woefully
• wretchedly

Examples of sorely in a Sentence

You will be sorely missed.

She provided some sorely needed help.

The house is sorely in need of paint.

He is sorely lacking in social skills.

Recent Examples on the Web

The gifted centre, a zone entry monster, has brought a level of pace and creativity that Vancouver has been sorely lacking. —Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025

But the Jayhawks gave up 60 points in the second half and sorely missed Bidunga’s rim protection. —Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2025

Blocking a Different Pain Pathway Such alternatives are sorely needed. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025

Teaching how and why the Holocaust happened can make the Holocaust relevant and provoke critical thinking, something sorely needed in a world awash in online denial, distortion, and antisemitism. —Greg Schneider and Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sorely

adverb

sore·​ly ˈsō(ə)r-lē 

ˈsȯ(ə)r-

: in a sore manner