Synonyms for

Sadness

Verb / ˈsædnʌs / Another word for sadness — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Sadness is a feeling of unhappiness or sorrow.

Synonyms & similar words

lugubriousness happiness sorrow gloominess unhappiness sorrowfulness unhappiness sorrow grief melancholy depression despair disappointment heartbreak mourning regret woe misery anguish desolation forlornness pessimism despondency pathos lamentation tears

Synonyms by register

Formal

melancholy sorrow grief despondency

Informal

blues downer bummer unhappiness

Literary

woe heaviness despair lament

Antonyms

happiness joy elation cheerfulness glee contentment delight

Common collocations

  • deep sadness
  • overwhelming sadness
  • feeling of sadness
  • wave of sadness
  • sadness and despair
  • sadness of heart
  • utter sadness

Word family

noun sadness
adjective sad
adverb sadly

Usage note

Sadness is a common emotion. While 'grief' often implies a deeper, more profound sorrow, typically related to loss, 'sadness' can refer to a wider range of negative emotional states.

Example sentences

  1. I felt sadness when my pet died.
  2. Her sadness was visible in her eyes.
  3. The news brought sadness to everyone in the room.
  4. He couldn't hide his sadness when he heard the bad news.
  5. The movie was full of sadness and tragedy.

Quotes

  • Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.
  • The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.
  • When someone you love dies, and you're not expecting it, you don't lose her all at once; you lose her in pieces over a long time—the way the mail stops coming, and her scent fades from the pillows and even from the clothes in her closet and drawers.

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