Sorely
/ˈsɔːrli/
Definitions
In a way that causes pain or suffering; severely; greatly.
/ˈsɔːrli/
To a severe or intense degree.
The team was sorely missing their star player.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're really, really sad because your favorite ice cream shop is closed. That feeling of extreme sadness? You could say you're sorely disappointed. It means you're feeling the disappointment very strongly.
👶 For kids: When something is sorely, it means it's very, very bad or sad.
More Examples
He was sorely tempted to give up.
The country was sorely in need of resources after the disaster.
How It's Used
"She was sorely disappointed when she didn't get the job."
"The king's heart was sorely troubled."
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
sorely tempted
Strongly inclined to do something, often something undesirable or forbidden.
"He was sorely tempted to skip work and go to the beach."
sorely needed
Urgent and important need
"After the hurricane, relief supplies were sorely needed."
From Old English *sārlīce*, meaning 'painfully, grievously', derived from *sār* (sore, pain) + *-līce* (adverbial suffix).
The word 'sorely' has been used for centuries in English literature to emphasize the severity of an emotional state or physical condition.
Memory tip
Think of a sore spot: it hurts a lot. Sorely means something causes significant pain or hardship.