1
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness
movies in which the hero dies always make us feel sad
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depressing
causing unhappiness
the sad news about our uncle's death made my father cry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
no one expected the supermodel to be a great actress, but her acting is sad beyond belief
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sad
The United States is in a sad state of affairs.
—
Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
There are plenty of sad stories associated with the horrific fiery crash.
—Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
But the sad but simple reality is that New York, like other cities and states over the decades, have left the mentally ill to languish in jails, on streets, in nursing homes and on subways without adequate care or support.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
Yet while plenty of people bemoan the death of the big-screen romantic comedy—essays about this very problem arrive on schedule every few years or so, like impatient cicadas—nobody seems all that sad about the demise of chick lit.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sad
Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
There are plenty of sad stories associated with the horrific fiery crash.
—Paul Eisenberg, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
But the sad but simple reality is that New York, like other cities and states over the decades, have left the mentally ill to languish in jails, on streets, in nursing homes and on subways without adequate care or support.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
Yet while plenty of people bemoan the death of the big-screen romantic comedy—essays about this very problem arrive on schedule every few years or so, like impatient cicadas—nobody seems all that sad about the demise of chick lit.
—Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sad
Adjective
-
Wait times, and particularly in the emergency department, wait times were skyrocketing, patient satisfaction, and everybody was just generally unhappy.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
9 May 2026
-
Sources have told Deadline that Fox was originally unhappy with the creative on Season 14 of the show, but collaborated with the creative team and was ultimately sated.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Because what could be more depressing than just passively watching the world burn and melt and crumble?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
This level of security is a depressing necessity in modern-day Britain.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
But as Notes from Underground progresses, his behavior turns from funny to pathetic to downright despicable.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Over pinwheeling synths, Mahesh inhabits her narrator’s misplaced longing with gooey, heart-eyed delusion and sweetly pathetic determination.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Gloria, her son, and Rickman moved to an apartment in the town of Tumwater in September 2021, and her heartbroken parents chose to sell their hotel.—
Paul LaRosa,
CBS News,
3 May 2026
-
The 17-year-old boy knifed to death during a clash with a stranger on a Bronx street was preparing to graduate and looking forward to his prom, his heartbroken mother said Thursday.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The heartbreaking and ironic thing is that democracy has given rise, through the proper, right voting mechanism, to this kind of totalitarian regime.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
12 May 2026
-
This was truly beautiful and heartbreaking.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Will the harsh weather mean poor growth and pitiful harvests?—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
8 May 2026
-
Written as a response to the utopian fiction that consumed Russia’s intelligentsia at the time, Notes from Underground is a mirror that reflects the ugliest, most pitiful aspects of humanity back at us.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Children, yes, but families, grown-ups, single people, divorced people, cheerful people, depressed people, dog people, cat people, Dodgers fans, Padres fans, whomever.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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But there are some important factors that could lower their ceiling, namely depressed enthusiasm with some key groups, the fact that there are fewer competitive districts than ever before and the state of the redistricting battle.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lee said the incident is especially unfortunate, given the good work VCH does.—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
This is unfortunate and, from your telling, needlessly aggressive.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sad. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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