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sorely

American  
[sawr-lee, sohr-] / ˈsɔr li, ˈsoʊr- /

adverb

  1. in a painful manner.

  2. extremely; very.

    I was sorely tempted to report him.
sorely British  
/ ˈsɔːlɪ /

adverb

  1. painfully or grievously

    sorely wounded

  2. pressingly or greatly

    to be sorely taxed

    he will be sorely missed
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sorely

before 900; Middle English sarely, soreli, Old English sārlīce; sore, -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Eleventh-hour explanations are sorely lacking, particularly when other heirs are affected.

From MarketWatch

What would be really valuable is if these private, high-cost, higher-learning institutions partner and brand themselves with two-year trade schools to create even better, accredited programs for the trades—which are sorely lacking today.

From The Wall Street Journal

But for viewers looking for something new, Disney+ is sorely lacking.

From MarketWatch

But if Frank thought this would ease the growing anger of travelling fans he would have been sorely mistaken as he once more felt the full force of their fury after the final whistle.

From BBC

An ideal future for Morakinyo would be to develop ecotourism -- sorely lacking in Nigeria, despite its rich wildlife -- and possibly generate funds from carbon credits.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.