sadden

verb

sad·​den ˈsa-dᵊn 

saddened; saddening ˈsad-niŋ 

ˈsa-dᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to make sad

intransitive verb

: to become sad

Synonyms of sadden

• depress
• worry
• oppress
• trouble
• burden

Examples of sadden in a Sentence

It saddens me that we could not agree.

We were saddened to see how ill she looks.

She was saddened over the death of her friend.

Her face saddened when she heard the news.

Recent Examples on the Web

Other magpies gathered around it, as if saddened and confused. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Hundreds of comments followed the business's Facebook and Instagram posts, many shocked and saddened by York’s passing. — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 8 Sep. 2026

After Panettiere’s passing, Neutrogena released a statement saying the company is deeply saddened by her death. — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

We are saddened to learn about the passing of former Met Butch Huskey. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for sadden

• gladden
• hadden
• madden
• aladdin
• coumadin

Kids Definition

sadden

verb

sad·​den ˈsad-ᵊn 

saddened; saddening -niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become sad