# sadly

> English word · Adverb · IPA /ˈsædli/ · frequency rank #5,358

## Definitions
1. In a sad manner; sorrowfully.
2. Unfortunately, sad to say.
3. In a manner to cause sadness; badly; terribly.
4. Very much (of a desire etc.); dearly; urgently.
5. Deeply, completely.

## Etymology
From Middle English sadly; equivalent to sad + -ly.

## Easily confused with
- **say** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-say)
- **sal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sal)
- **sly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sly)
- **sale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sale)
- **salt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-salt)
- **sail** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sail)
- **Saul** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-saul)
- **sala** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sala)
- **Sadr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sadr)
- **silly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-silly)
- **sandy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sandy)
- **sally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sally)
- **salty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-salty)
- **shady** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-shady)
- **Sammy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sammy)
- **savvy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-savvy)
- **sails** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sails)
- **sassy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sassy)
- **salle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-salle)
- **sully** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sadly-vs-sully)

## Common misspellings (8)
`asdly`, `saddly`, `sadlly`, `sadlyy`, `sadyl`, `saldy`, `sdaly`, `ssadly`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sadly