sadder; saddest
1
a
: affected with or expressive of grief or unhappiness : downcast
b(1)
: causing or associated with grief or unhappiness : depressing
sad news
(2)
: regrettable, deplorable
a sad relaxation of morals—
C. W. Cunnington
C. W. Cunnington
c
: of little worth
2
: of a dull somber color
sadness
noun
seasonal affective disorder
Synonyms
Adjective
- bad
- blue
- brokenhearted
- cast down
- crestfallen
- dejected
- depressed
- despondent
- disconsolate
- doleful
- down
- downcast
- downhearted
- down in the mouth
- droopy
- forlorn
- gloomy
- glum
- hangdog
- heartbroken
- heartsick
- heartsore
- heavyhearted
- inconsolable
- joyless
- low
- low-spirited
- melancholic
- melancholy
- miserable
- mournful
- saddened
- sorrowful
- sorry
- unhappy
- woebegone
- woeful
- wretched
Examples of sad in a Sentence
Adjective
He's feeling sad because his pet died.
People were sad that he was leaving.
The experience left her sadder but wiser.
Have you heard the sad news about his wife's illness?
It'll be a sad day when you leave us.
a movie with a sad ending
He lived a sad life.
The sad fact of the matter is that they are right.
The new version is a sad imitation of the original movie.
We needed more money but, sad to say, there wasn't any.
Recent Examples on the WebStephanie Zacharek, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
Neon tears Crying in the club doesn't have to look sad.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Oct. 2024
Tragically, Colorado has a long, sad history of firearm violence committed by people with untreated mental issues.
—Eileen McCarron, The Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2024
But this debate was just a sad exercise in the power of lies.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sad 
Adjective
Phillips ultimately brings the movie to a sad, dark place that’s likely to please—or even move—no one.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 4 Oct. 2024
Neon tears Crying in the club doesn't have to look sad.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 3 Oct. 2024
Tragically, Colorado has a long, sad history of firearm violence committed by people with untreated mental issues.
—Eileen McCarron, The Denver Post, 1 Oct. 2024
But this debate was just a sad exercise in the power of lies.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sad
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sad
Cite this Entry
“Sad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sad. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sad
adjective
sadder; saddest
1
: filled with or expressing grief or unhappiness
sad songs
2
: causing grief or unhappiness : depressing
sad news
sadly
adverb
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