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

That’s an excellent scoring pace for a fourth-line contributor and is the sort of depth offensive output that the club sorely needs. —Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 15 Dec. 2024

But Survivor 46 gave us something that has been sorely lacking in the new kinder, gentler era of the show — some actual spice. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

And all these inmates were finding that thing that was so sorely needed in this dangerous place: a place to unpack, to be tender, to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. —Elena Nelson Howe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024

That group will be sorely needed if the team harbors any hope of upsetting the Nittany Lions and ending the season on a high note. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 24 Nov. 2024

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