wretchedly

adverb

Definition of wretchedlynext
1
as in poorly
in an unsatisfactory way the whole hockey team played wretchedly that night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bitterly
with feelings of bitterness or grief we're wretchedly disappointed in you for behaving so irresponsibly

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wretchedly The Eastern Europeans—Yiddish Jews, Kimmel calls them—were poor, wretchedly so. — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wretchedly
  1. poorly
  2. bitterly
  3. bad
  4. sorrowfully
  5. badly
  6. sadly
  7. painfully
  8. mournfully
Adverb
  • That assumption aged poorly as AA’s competitor Delta Air Lines made seatback screens based on cheaper, lighter hardware part of its standard experience.
    — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Toxicologist Fernández has stayed in touch with his patient and still winces about how Mark feared reporting the crime to the police could reflect poorly on him professionally.
    — Mattha Busby, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of poorly
Adverb
  • District 4 The District 4 race between Sharry Kimmel, of Parkland, and Nicole Morst, of Coral Springs, has turned into one of the most bitterly contested, with both candidates questioning the honesty of their opponent.
    — Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Many clergy bitterly opposed the handover of the villages and criticized Pashinyan, who came to power in the South Caucasus nation amid a wave of hopeful, pro-democracy protests that swept Armenia in 2018.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of bitterly
Adverb
  • Another would be to coat your thumbs with a bad-tasting substance.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 30 July 2026
  • Of course, Hole himself isn’t averse to breaking bad, either.
    — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of bad
Adverb
  • Tarun would tease her, and my mother would look sorrowfully toward Kavitha, as if the two of them now shared some womanly burden.
    — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
Definition of sorrowfully
Adverb
  • Even when off-the-shelf software fit badly, most companies still bought it because the alternative was too expensive to justify.
    — Andrew Siemer, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Although the country has been badly damaged by war, the regime remains intact, and its regional power has grown.
    — MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of badly
Adverb
  • Heavy oils and butters Natural-hair routines can lean hard on oils, and sadly, that may work against you.
    — Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Despite being predators, these individuals are sadly no match for humans.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of sadly
Adverb
  • Argentina’s race for a second consecutive World Cup title ended painfully this summer, with Spain beating Lionel Messi and the defending champions 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium.
    — Asli Pelit, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Bethany, whose interactions with Anna thus far have been painfully awkward and obliviously rude, decides to confide in the ranger.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of painfully
Adverb
  • Mayfield watched mournfully in his kitchen while the rest of the family sat in the living room with the big screen next to a Christmas tree.
    — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
  • So is the moment early in the film when Mary mournfully looks on as her long-ago home faces demolition to make room for a big, featureless residential complex.
    — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2026
Definition of mournfully

Browse Nearby Words

wretched
wretchedly
wretchedness
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Cite this Entry

“Wretchedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wretchedly. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wretchedly

Nglish: Translation of wretchedly for Spanish Speakers

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