sadder; saddest
1
a
: affected with or expressive of grief or unhappiness : downcast
b(1)
: causing or associated with grief or unhappiness : depressing
sad news
(2)
: regrettable, deplorable
… a sad relaxation of morals.—
C. W. Cunnington
C. W. Cunnington
c
: of little worth
2
: of a dull somber color
sadness
noun
seasonal affective disorder
Examples of sad in a Sentence
Adjective
He's feeling sad because his pet died.
People were sad that he was leaving.
The experience left her sadder but wiser.
Have you heard the sad news about his wife's illness?
It'll be a sad day when you leave us.
a movie with a sad ending
He lived a sad life.
The sad fact of the matter is that they are right.
The new version is a sad imitation of the original movie.
We needed more money but, sad to say, there wasn't any.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The flashback also has its own short, sad narrative arc.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Sandwiches Don’t be tempted by the deli sandwiches sold in plastic clam shells, the cold bread and sad cold cuts are not worth it.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Tress surely recognized himself in all these men, from the saddest shrinking violet to the happy flasher with nothing under his trenchcoat but pants cut off just above the knees.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sad
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Adjective
Talking about death doesn’t have to be scary, morbid or sad.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The flashback also has its own short, sad narrative arc.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
Sandwiches Don’t be tempted by the deli sandwiches sold in plastic clam shells, the cold bread and sad cold cuts are not worth it.
—Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
Tress surely recognized himself in all these men, from the saddest shrinking violet to the happy flasher with nothing under his trenchcoat but pants cut off just above the knees.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sad
Cite this Entry
“Sad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sad. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sad
adjective
sadder; saddest
1
: filled with or expressing grief or unhappiness
sad songs
2
: causing grief or unhappiness : depressing
sad news
sadly
adverb
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