Sorrowfully: meaning, definitions and examples

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sorrowfully

 

[ˈsɒrəʊfʊli ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

expressing sadness or grief

In a sorrowful manner; feeling or showing sadness or grief.

Synonyms

grief-stricken, mournfully, sadly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
sorrowfully

Use when expressing sadness or regret, usually in a somewhat sincere or heartfelt manner.

  • She looked at the empty chair sorrowfully, remembering the times they spent together
sadly

Use to express a general sense of unhappiness or disappointment, applicable in both serious and minor matters.

  • Sadly, the picnic was canceled due to rain
mournfully

Use when showing deep sadness, often in a more subdued or solemn way, typically related to mourning or lamenting a loss.

  • The old man sat mournfully by the graveside, whispering to himself
grief-stricken

Use to describe someone who is deeply affected by extreme sorrow or loss, often following a significant event like a death.

  • He was grief-stricken after hearing about the passing of his best friend

Examples of usage

  • She looked at him sorrowfully, knowing that he would soon be leaving.
  • He spoke sorrowfully of the loss of his beloved pet.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from 'sorrow,' which has Old English roots meaning 'sadness' or 'grief.'
  • It combines 'sorrow' with the adverbial suffix '-fully,' indicating the manner of feeling intense sadness.

Psychology

  • Expressing feelings sorrowfully can lead to emotional healing, as acknowledging sadness helps in processing grief.
  • Research shows that actively talking about your sorrows can alleviate feelings of isolation and enhance social connections.

Literature

  • In classic literature, characters often act sorrowfully to convey their deepest emotional struggles, such as in Shakespeare’s tragedies.
  • The depiction of sorrow in poetry often uses vivid imagery to convey the depth of emotions, highlighting the beauty and pain of human experience.

Cultural Practices

  • Many cultures have specific rituals or practices that deal with sorrow, such as wearing black during mourning periods.
  • Art therapy, which uses creative expression to communicate sorrowful feelings, is recognized in many cultures as a way to heal from grief.

Music

  • Many sad songs evoke feelings of sorrow, often connecting personal experiences of loss to universal themes of heartbreak.
  • Sorrowful music, like blues, explores themes of sadness and often reflects the struggles faced during challenging life events.

Translations

Translations of the word "sorrowfully" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tristemente

🇮🇳 दुख के साथ (dukh ke saath)

🇩🇪 traurig

🇮🇩 dengan sedih

🇺🇦 сумно

🇵🇱 smutno

🇯🇵 悲しげに (kanashige ni)

🇫🇷 tristement

🇪🇸 tristemente

🇹🇷 üzgün bir şekilde

🇰🇷 슬프게 (seulpeuge)

🇸🇦 بحزن (biḥuzn)

🇨🇿 smutně

🇸🇰 smutne

🇨🇳 悲伤地 (bēishāng de)

🇸🇮 žalostno

🇮🇸 sorglega

🇰🇿 қайғылы түрде (qaiǵyly túrde)

🇬🇪 მწუხარედ (mts'ukharad)

🇦🇿 kədərlə

🇲🇽 tristemente

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,268, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.