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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 Let’s return, then, to La Quinta, and the saddest pizza party imaginable. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 That makes Union Town more cumulatively powerful at minute 106 than at any single point, no matter how sad or harrowing or infuriating the stories and experiences are. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026 The Black Eyed Peas frontman commented with many sad face and crying emojis under Jones' post. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 The little girl stared up at Norma Gómez from the doorway of her neighbor's apartment, her sad, brown eyes suddenly flashing with hope. — Claudia Boyd-Barrett, CBS News, 9 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
  • But when an oblong ball hits the turf, there’s often an equal chance the other team will recover, so Harbaugh was predictably unhappy with his team’s four fumbles against Dallas.
    — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • There's also the daunting task of keeping young conservatives engaged at a time when many of them are unhappy with party leaders.
    — Elena Moore, NPR, 10 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
  • This is a complete pathetic effort by defense, offense and coaching.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Among the performers, Smith rules the roost as the no-nonsense Angela, and Jones acquits himself tolerably on comic relief duties as the pathetic Mike.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of pathetic
Adjective
  • Wright State University President Sue Edwards said the school community was heartbroken.
    — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Micah’s life was taken far too soon, leaving his family, friends, teammates, and community heartbroken.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • At each turn, a heartbreaking picture comes into sharper focus, underscoring Ricki’s destructive appetite that exploits Rita’s deepest needs and fears under the guise of friendship and no-judgement sisterhood.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The Women's Media Center, which Steinem cofounded with Jane Fonda and Robin Morgan in 2005, mourned the pioneering feminist's loss in a heartbreaking tribute.
    — Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 3 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
  • Quietly depressed, a wife to Reuben (Tracy Letts, Coon’s real-life partner) and mother to Ella (Bella Ramsey) and Jo (Odessa Young), Rita holds a monotonous desk job at a bank by day, and tends to her family by night as part of her humdrum routine.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Sprague conceded Clancy had mental health issues and was depressed.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of depressed
Adjective
  • That is the unfortunate part of a tenure full of expansion, media-rights billions and two transformational collective bargaining agreements.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Moore and his allies are presenting gerrymandering as an unfortunate response to an acute political crisis, but trying to gerrymander Maryland in favor of Democrats is far from a new effort.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 7 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 17 Sep. 2026.

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