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sad

adjective

ˈsad How to pronounce sad (audio)
Definition of sadnext
1
as in unhappy
feeling unhappiness movies in which the hero dies always make us feel sad

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sad But the star of the show is undoubtedly Griffin, with his machine-gun line delivery, hulking physicality and hooded, sad eyes. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026 This is a sad development for Sweet Magnolias fans who would’ve liked a proper conclusion via a final season, with an Annie and Ty reconciliation probably at the top of their wishlist. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026 So shocking and sad for such a young person barely out of their 20s. — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026 More Women’s Health and Menopause Research Less than 1% of federal research budgets are allocated to midlife women’s health, a profoundly sad statistic. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sad
  1. unhappy
  2. depressing
  3. pathetic
  4. heartbroken
  5. heartbreaking
  6. pitiful
  7. depressed
  8. unfortunate
Adjective
  • Advocates unhappy with California AG Media advocacy group Free Press criticized California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Such promotions on social media and elsewhere might trigger some unhappy conversations between taxpayers and legitimate tax professionals.
    — Susan Tompor, Freep.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • Having too many Titans on your fantasy roster is just depressing.
    — Gary Davenport, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Don’t be put off by the alarming title; this book approaches our ominous political landscape with an eye to diagnosing, not depressing.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • The Chargers' offense mustered a pathetic 14 points all game.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • It’s also brilliantly written as a futile, pathetic rebellion by men with zero agency or purpose in their own lives.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of pathetic
Adjective
  • Daria’s heartbroken family declined to comment on her death Saturday.
    — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Drawn to a lakeside haven by a mysterious pregnant woman, a heartbroken drifter finds refuge with a group of eccentric misfits.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • Then with Lee, in the timeline closest to our present day, her heartbreaking, hard-to-stomach testimony means nothing to a callous judge who sentences her to death three times over.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The last Bravo celebrity who came on this show following a deeply personal and heartbreaking scandal did pretty well for herself on and off the dance floor.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of heartbreaking
Adjective
  • Completing the hat trick in pitiful style, Taking on the World was shot on a shoestring budget, helmed by the man behind Highlander III, and forced to rely on stock footage of real-life footballers.
    — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
  • Given the national team’s pitiful demise at the Oval, with New Zealand completing victory on the fifth morning, Ben Stokes’ revival in absentia feels like the only consolation from a miserable week.
    — Hector Vickers, New York Times, 21 June 2026
Definition of pitiful
Adjective
  • Instead, medical guidelines typically recommend testosterone for men who report symptoms — including low libido and depressed mood — and have two blood tests confirming low levels of the hormone.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Yet her awakening is dampened by her depressed father and cruel stepmother Abby (Rebecca Hall).
    — William Earl, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of depressed
Adjective
  • One of these evils had the mass murder of civilians as its intended goal; the other claims that its victims are unfortunate accidents.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • But those who get too close risk far more than a soaking, as Niagara is a graveyard for the reckless, the unfortunate and the desperate.
    — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfortunate

Browse Nearby Words

sacrosanct
sad
sadden
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Cite this Entry

“Sad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sad. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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