sad

[sad] / sæd /

ADJECTIVE

affected by unhappiness or grief

Synonyms

STRONGEST

depressed heartbroken melancholy mournful pessimistic somber sorrowful sorry unhappy

STRONG

bereaved blue cheerless dejected despairing despondent disconsolate distressed doleful down downcast forlorn gloomy glum grief-stricken grieved heartsick heavy-hearted hurting inconsolable low low-spirited morose pensive wistful

WEAK

bitter down in dumps down in the mouth in doldrums in grief in the dumps languishing lugubrious morbid out of sorts sick at heart troubled weeping woebegone

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful glad happy hopeful joyful

ADJECTIVE

unfortunate, distressing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bad dark depressing dismal miserable moving pathetic pitiful poignant regrettable serious sorry tragic

STRONG

discouraging disheartening dreary grave heart-rending joyless melancholic saddening tear-jerking upsetting

WEAK

calamitous deplorable disastrous discomposing dispiriting funereal grievous hapless lachrymose lamentable lugubrious oppressive pitiable shabby tearful unsatisfactory wretched

Antonyms

STRONGEST

advantageous blessed bright cheerful encouraging fortunate glad good happy hopeful joyful light lucky pleasant right unaffecting

ADJECTIVE

deplorably bad

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bad deplorable lamentable shoddy sorry unfortunate unsatisfactory

STRONG

inadequate inferior piteous pitiable pitiful regrettable

WEAK

low-grade low-quality second-class

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

People regularly asked what was wrong with me, if I was sick or sad or close to tears.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2026

They were sad to see him suffer, but they had suffered through it too.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

While he was sad Orbán had lost, he was sure the US would "work very well" with the new government, he said.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

I felt very sad about where China is today.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

How hard and sad everything must have been after his dad died—how hard and sad it must still be now.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison