Sadness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈsad/

Meaning & Definition of Sadness

Sadness (adjective)

  1. affected with or expressive of grief or unhappiness, downcast
  2. causing or associated with grief or unhappiness, depressing
  3. regrettable, deplorable

Sadness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state or spell of low spirits

    "she was filled with sadness at the thought of having to leave her family"

    similar: blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despond, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolefulness, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, miserableness, mopes, mournfulness, oppression, sorrowfulness, unhappiness
    related: melancholia, self-pity, anguish, dolor, grief, mourning, somberness, sorrow, woefulness, agony, distress, pain, misery, woe, wretchedness, discouragement, disheartenment, moodiness, despair, desperation, hopelessness, self-despair, boredom, ennui, tedium, dismalness, drear, morbidness, moroseness, morosity, regret, rue
    opposite: bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, happiness, heaven, intoxication, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness
    near: gaiety, gayness, glee, gleefulness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, hopefulness, optimism, sunniness, content, contentedness, contentment, satisfaction, delight, gratification

Related Entry: Sad (adjective)

Sad is a different word from Sadness. The synonyms below are for sad, not for sadness.

  1. feeling unhappiness

    "movies in which the hero dies always make us feel sad"

    similar: 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
    related: aggrieved, distressed, troubled, uneasy, unquiet, upset, worried, despairing, hopeless, sunk, disappointed, discouraged, disheartened, dispirited, suicidal, dolorous, lachrymose, lugubrious, plaintive, tearful, regretful, rueful, agonized, anguished, grieving, wailing, weeping, black, bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, darkening, depressing, desolate, dismal, drear, dreary, elegiac, funereal, gray, morbid, morose, murky, saturnine, somber, sullen
    opposite: blissful, buoyant, buoyed, cheerful, cheery, chipper, delighted, glad, gladdened, gladsome, gleeful, happy, joyful, joyous, jubilant, sunny, upbeat
    near: ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant, overjoyed, rapturous, rhapsodic, blithe, blithesome, jocose, jocular, jocund, jolly, jovial, lightsome, merry, mirthful, excited, thrilled, hopeful, optimistic, rosy, sanguine, encouraged, heartened, animated, bouncing, energetic, frisky, jaunty, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy, content, gratified, pleased, satisfied, beaming, grinning, laughing, smiling, boon, carefree, careless, cavalier, devil-may-care, easygoing, happy-go-lucky, insouciant, lighthearted, unconcerned

  2. causing unhappiness

    "the sad news about our uncle's death made my father cry"

    similar: depressing, dismal, drear, dreary, heartbreaking, heartrending, melancholy, mournful, pathetic, saddening, sorry, tearful, teary
    related: deplorable, distressful, grievous, lamentable, unfortunate, woeful, discomforting, discomposing, disquieting, distressing, disturbing, perturbing, affecting, moving, poignant, touching, discouraging, disheartening, dispiriting
    opposite: cheering, cheery, glad, happy
    near: heartening, heartwarming, inspiring, stimulating, stirring, uplifting, agreeable, delightful, enjoyable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome, exhilarating, thrilling

  3. deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)

    "no one expected the supermodel to be a great actress, but her acting is sad beyond belief"

    similar: contemptible, despicable, miserable, pathetic, pitiable, pitiful, sorry, wretched
    related: deplorable, discreditable, disgraceful, disreputable, ignominious, infamous, misbegotten, notorious, shameful, abhorrent, abominable, beastly, detestable, hateful, lousy, odious, stinking, bad, inferior, lame, poor, disgusting, dishonorable, meritless, unworthy, worthless, scandalous, shocking, sordid, unsavory
    opposite: decent, presentable, respectable
    near: admirable, commendable, creditable, laudable, meritorious, praiseworthy, redoubtable, notable, noteworthy, noticeable, outstanding, reputable, worthy, excellent, flawless, perfect, honorable, noble, honest, straight

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sadness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sadness:

blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despond, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolefulness, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, miserableness, mopes, mournfulness, oppression, sorrowfulness, unhappiness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sadness

Words with the opposite meaning of Sadness:

bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, happiness, heaven, intoxication, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness

Related Words for Sadness

melancholia, self-pity, anguish, dolor, grief, mourning, somberness, sorrow, woefulness, agony, distress, pain, misery, woe, wretchedness, discouragement, disheartenment, moodiness, despair, desperation, hopelessness, self-despair, boredom, ennui, tedium, dismalness, drear, morbidness, moroseness, morosity

Near Antonyms of Sadness

gaiety, gayness, glee, gleefulness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, hopefulness, optimism, sunniness, content, contentedness, contentment, satisfaction, delight, gratification

Word Forms of Sadness

Inflections: sadder, saddest

Derived words: sadness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Sadness

Middle English, from Old English sæd sated; akin to Old High German sat sated, Latin satis enough

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Sadness

What does "Sadness" mean?

"Sadness" means affected with or expressive of grief or unhappiness, downcast. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: affected with or expressive of grief or unhappiness, downcast.

What is another word for "Sadness"?

Other words for "Sadness" include blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despond, despondence and despondency. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sadness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sadness"?

There are 60 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sadness". Common alternatives include blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despond, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness and dispiritedness.

What is the opposite of "Sadness"?

Antonyms of "Sadness" include bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration and exuberance. Near antonyms include gaiety, gayness, glee and gleefulness.

How do you use "Sadness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sadness" in a sentence: "she was filled with sadness at the thought of having to leave her family".

Is "Sadness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sadness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Sadness"?

"Sadness" is pronounced /ˈsad/.

What is the origin of the word "Sadness"?

"Sadness" comes from Middle English, from Old English sæd sated; akin to Old High German sat sated, Latin satis enough. First known use: 13th century.