sadden

verb

sad·​den ˈsa-dᵊn 

saddened; saddening ˈsad-niŋ 

ˈsa-dᵊn-iŋ

transitive verb

: to make sad

intransitive verb

: to become sad

Synonyms

• 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

The Building the Band producers were shocked and saddened to hear of his death, a source told PEOPLE at the time. —Marina Watts, People.com, 26 June 2025

Supporters of the Illinois part of the campaign are saddened that former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for corruption. —Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025

Food Network star and celebrity chef Anne Burrell's death has saddened her fans, friends and peers, including Burrell's own bridesmaid Rachael Ray, who is mourning the loss of her close friend. —Jay Stahl, USA Today, 21 June 2025

And then there’s a request for you and me and all who have been saddened or angered or somehow changed by the actions of this new world order. —Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2025

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