sad en · ADJ · etymology 1
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English sad, from Old English sæd (“satisfied, full, sated, unable to handle more, weary”), from Proto-West Germanic *sad, from Proto-Germanic *sadaz (“sated, satisfied”), from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂- (“to satiate, satisfy”). Cognate to Saterland Frisian sääd, West Frisian sêd, Dutch zat, German Low German satt, German satt. The interjection sense is a reference to frequent usage of the word as an interjection in the tweets of Donald Trump, 45th & 47th President of the United States (2017–2021; 2025–)); a Trumpism.
Meanings
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Emotionally negative. ▸ Feeling sorrow; sorrowful, mournful.
[…]Th’ Angelic Guards aſcended, mute and ſad[…]
1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, line 18:Firſt were we ſad, fearing you would not come, / Now ſadder that you come ſo vnprouided:[…]
c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 219, column 2:She gets sad when he's away.
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Emotionally negative. ▸ Appearing sorrowful.
We need a sad man. Give us a sad man.” Tomo gave the look of a sad man, then followed with the body of a sad man. “That's it, more of that. can you manufacture a mole right here? Yes, a very ugly mole. Right here, on the chin.[…]
2010 February 14, Eric Rentschler, Itoh's Ghost, iUniverse, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 54:The puppy had a sad little face.
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Emotionally negative. ▸ Causing sorrow; lamentable.
It's a sad fact that most rapes go unreported.
The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad.
1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 249:The Great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad, / For all their wars are merry and all their songs are sad.
1911, G. K. Chesterton, The Ballad of the White Horse:
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Emotionally negative. ▸ Poor in quality, bad; shameful, deplorable; later, regrettable, poor.
Musk is betting that lonely users will trade their cash (and last shreds of their connection to human life) for a bot that is explicitly designed to flirt with sad men, as the saddest man on Earth spearheaded it.
2025 July 16, Luis Prada, “Elon Musk’s Grok AI Now Includes a Pornographic Waifu Chatbot”, in Vice:Heaven knows what cash he got, or blood he spilt, / A sad old fellow was he, if you please[…].
1819 July 15, [Lord Byron], Don Juan, London: […] Thomas Davison, […], →OCLC, canto II, stanza CXXVII, page 182:That's the saddest-looking pickup truck I've ever seen.
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Emotionally negative. ▸ Of colours: dark, deep; later, sombre, dull.
[…]this is either uſed crude, and called ſulphur vive, and is of a ſadder colour; or after depuration, ſuch as we have in magdeleons or rols of a lighter yellow.
1650, Thomas Browne, “Compendiously of Sundry Other Common Tenents, Concerning Minerall and Terreous Bodies, Which Examined, Prove Either False or Dubious”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 2nd book, page 69:Woad, or wade, is used by the dyers to lay the foundation of many colours, especially all sad colours.
1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC:sad-coloured clothes
1679, Izaak Walton, The Life of Bishop Robert Sanderson:
- (obsolete) Sated, having had one's fill; satisfied, weary.
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(obsolete) Steadfast, valiant.
The fearefull newes that whilſt the flame doth but begin, Sad pollicie may ſerue to quench the fire: […]
1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I:
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(obsolete) Dignified, serious, grave.
Vproſe Sir Guyon, in bright armour clad, / And to his purpoſd iourney him prepar'd: / With him the Palmer eke in habit ſad, / Him ſelfe addreſt to that aduenture hard: […]
1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 3, page 348:Therfore it nedeth that better prouysion. Were founde for youthe by sad and wyse counsayle
1509, Sebastian Brant, translated by Alexander Barclay, The Ship of Fools,:
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(obsolete) Naughty; troublesome; wicked.
In ſuch places, it would not be doubted, that a grim Daniel Scroggins, and an aproned Sam Smith, might be found—ſad tipſy fellows, both of them, to whoſe ingenuity this or that mechanical improvement had been due.
1860, Isaac Taylor, “Essay III. Modern Advancements and Lay Inventors.”, in Ultimate Civilization and Other Essays, London: Bell and Daldy […], →OCLC, section IX, page 227:Mr. Santon laughed, and merely said,—"Oh, you cruel beauty!" returning to his paper again; but, seated in the bay-window was one, who could not thus lightly look upon the conduct of the coquettish Winnie, for it was evident she was a sad coquette.
1859, Ferna Vale, Natalie; or, A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds:
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(slang) Unfashionable; socially inadequate or undesirable.
I can't believe you use drugs; you're so sad!
You’d have to be really sad to wear a shirt like that.
- (dialectal) Soggy (to refer to pastries).
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(obsolete) Heavy; weighty; ponderous; close; hard.
[…]his hand, more ſad then lomp of lead,[…]
1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 30, page 299:Chalky lands are naturally cold and sad.
1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC:sad bread
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sadder | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| saddest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| more sad | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most sad | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Antonyms
satisfied · exuberant · upbeat · fat and happy · content · happy · joyful · delighted · blithe · overjoyed · decent · tickled pink · exultant · gay · gayful · cock-a-hoop · overjoyed · pleased · gladsome · gleesome · buoyant · overjoyous · exhilarated · blissful · joyous · thrilled · ecstatic · happy as a prince · wealful · ecstatic · gassed · pacific · happy as a pig in shit · jovial · ebullient · placated · happy as a lark · excited · on cloud nine · pacific · perky · stoked · happy as the day is long · glad · chuffed · berserk · convivial · happy as a clam · bright · happy as a pig in mud · gay · cheery · vivacious · blissed out · happy as Larry · thrilled · enthusiastic · elated · satisfied · high on life · euphoric · placated · content · merry as a grig · cock-a-hoop · cheerly · elated · merry as a cricket · on cloud nine · delighted · glad · hearty · happy · giddy · blissed out · perky · joyful · merry · mirthsome · over the moon · triumphant · gleeful · hyped · blithesome · tickled pink · excited · happy as a clam at high water · bonnie · jovial · cheerful · contented · happy · pleased · cheerful · over the moon · chirpy · exultant · gleeful · triumphant · gleeful
Deriveds
sad case · saddie · saddest · saddish · sangry · sadboi · sadfic · sadness · sad-cited · pathetisad · sadster · sad drunk · sadfuck · sad act · sadlarious · saddo · sad bread · pack a sad · sadcase · sadsome · sad beige · semisad · get a sad on · sadpost · sad panda · sadware · sad number · sadfish · sadge · oversad · sadful · supersad · sad-eyed · unsad · sad sack · sadhearted · sadder · sad trombone · sad to say · sadcited · make someone's ears sad · sad-faced · sad tree · sad-com · sadfishing · sadcore · sadiron · sadless · sad ass · sadmin
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
crying · lonesome · pensive · long-faced · plaintful · heartbroken · regretful · lonely · pallid · tearful
Relateds
haggard · apathetic · sadden · lamentable
Synonyms
cheesy · heartbreaking · full · dejected · cheap · third-rate · slight · uncomfortable (feeling mentally uncomfortable) · lachrymose · unholiday · crappy · muddy · depressing · drecky · heartrending · deep · poor · solemn · saddening · scrubby · rubbish · woeful · disconsolate · uncolorful · heartsick · dull · lachrymable · staid · under par · blitheless · touching (moving, full of feeling) · sorrowsome · melancholic · fuscous · slim · shattered · cheapshit · naughty · dolesome · upsetting · below par · solemn · gloomy · regrettable · atrabiliary · low-rent · downcast · rinky-dink · solemncholy · sorry · serious · saturnine · sorrow-ridden · tragic · leaden · sombre · saddened · shitty · demure · miserable · distressed (feeling mentally uncomfortable) · lamentful · sober · heartsore · tin-pot · lamentable · crapperific · threnetic · dismal · sorrowful · gash · saturnine · mischievous · sweer · one-star · damp · bottom-shelf · lousy · depressed · shoddy · saturated · dull · somber · plaintive · wan · bummed out · crummy · weightsome · sorrowful · garbage · grievous · bum · atrabilious · swarthy · atrabiliary · morose · deplorable · inky · doleful · melancholy · weighty · lackluster · subpar · saddening · unhappy (feeling mentally uncomfortable) · glum · down · grievous · crap · made in China · sage · passionate · disgruntled · distressing · sad · wretched · dim · poor man's · despondent · Plutonic · cruddy · tristful · atrabilious · woeful · glum · muted · somber · lumpish · grieving · dingy · craptacular · vexatious · threnetical · second-rate · staid · heavy-hearted · austere · stern · cheerless · wistful · wretched · coffee-and · rueful · downsome · flimsy · shit · chapfallen · woebegone · slazy · low-quality · tenth-rate · unconsolable · dusky · craptabulous · dark · sober · grave · BTEC · sad · ass · god-awful · sedate · ticky-tacky · unlively · down in the dumps · cheap and nasty · down in the mouth · low-spirited · woeful · moody · disheartened · sad · jawfallen · low-grade · sad · colourless · blue · lugubrious · down in the dumps · grief-stricken · stern · querulous · schlocky · punk · lack-laughter · faint · discomforted (feeling mentally uncomfortable) · inconsolable · substandard · craptastic · unhappy · dispirited · woebegone · dogwater · elegious · low · mournful · mopey · intense · bland · shite · mid · pound-shop · pitiful · sullen · ropy · trashy · thoughtful · infelicitous · bad · inferior · dull · languid · uncheerful · triste · low · mournful · chopfallen · sombre · uncheery · pathetic · crestfallen · Plutonian · base · earnest · trash · sad · downhearted · fourth-rate · crappo · miserable · depressed · deplorable · elegiac · cut up · poignant (moving, full of feeling) · roguish · joyless · ruthful · melancholy · woe · forlorn · chintzy · frightful · spiritless
Translations (259)
ru печа́льный (causing sorrow, lamentable) · jct опранмах (feeling sorrow) · fi surkea (poor in quality, deplorable) · gd dubhach (appearing sorrowful) · it triste (feeling sorrow) · eu goibel (feeling sorrow) · lv bēdīgs (causing sorrow, lamentable) · ga brónach (causing sorrow, lamentable) · ky кайгылуу (feeling sorrow) · kk қайғылы (feeling sorrow) · es triste (feeling sorrow) · km កន្លេង (feeling sorrow) · tr zavallı (poor in quality, deplorable) · ru печа́льный (feeling sorrow) · sh tužan (feeling sorrow) · kk көңілсіз (feeling sorrow) · ko 슬프다 (feeling sorrow) · ka მწუხარე (feeling sorrow) · de traurig (causing sorrow, lamentable) · fi surkea (appearing sorrowful) · ca lamentable (causing sorrow, lamentable) · tr kaygılı (feeling sorrow) · ar مُحْزِنٌ (causing sorrow, lamentable) · lv bēdīgs (feeling sorrow) · gd muladach (feeling sorrow) · ps خپه (appearing sorrowful) · tr acıklı (causing sorrow, lamentable) · ar مُتْضَايِق (feeling sorrow) · fa دِژَم (feeling sorrow) · sv ledsen (feeling sorrow) · he עָצוּב (feeling sorrow) · ka საცოდავი (causing sorrow, lamentable) · pl smętny (causing sorrow, lamentable) · gd tùrsach (feeling sorrow) · kmr xemgîn (feeling sorrow) · gd fo mhulad (appearing sorrowful) · bn দুঃখিত (feeling sorrow) · izh pahameeliin (feeling sorrow) · ca trist (poor in quality, deplorable) · lt liūdnas (feeling sorrow) · la maestus (feeling sorrow) · hu szomorú (feeling sorrow) · fi surullinen (appearing sorrowful) · ur اُداس (feeling sorrow) · ka ნაღვლიანი (feeling sorrow) · enm sorweful (causing sorrow, lamentable) · io trista (feeling sorrow) · zza feqir (poor in quality, deplorable) · enm drery (appearing sorrowful) · az qəmgin (feeling sorrow) · ru гру́стный (feeling sorrow) · bo སྐྱོ་པོ (feeling sorrow) · pl przykry (causing sorrow, lamentable) · gd cianail (causing sorrow, lamentable) · bg мра́чен (feeling sorrow) · sq i pikëlluar (feeling sorrow) · enm sad (of colours: dark, sombre, dull) · gd gruamach (appearing sorrowful) · fr triste (feeling sorrow) · el λυπημένος (feeling sorrow) · nl verdrietig (appearing sorrowful) · vi buồn (feeling sorrow) · tr melul (feeling sorrow) · gd truagh (causing sorrow, lamentable) · my ဝမ်းနည်းသော (feeling sorrow) · ro tristă (feeling sorrow) · el λυπητερός (causing sorrow, lamentable) · sl žalosten (feeling sorrow) · el θλιμμένος (feeling sorrow) · da trist (feeling sorrow) · th เศร้า (feeling sorrow) · gd dòlasach (causing sorrow, lamentable) · pt triste (feeling sorrow) · hy տխուր (feeling sorrow) · nl triest (appearing sorrowful) · haw kaumaha (feeling sorrow) · fi surullinen (causing sorrow, lamentable) · cs smutný (feeling sorrow) · lv skumjš (feeling sorrow) · nl triest (feeling sorrow) · ang drēoriġ (feeling sorrow) · tr tasalı (feeling sorrow) · gd muladach (appearing sorrowful) · oc trist (feeling sorrow) · hi दुःखी (feeling sorrow) · tl malungkot (feeling sorrow) · oc trista (feeling sorrow) · bcl mamundo (feeling sorrow) · pl smutny (feeling sorrow) · ain エラムヌペクㇱ (feeling sorrow) · vi buồn bả (feeling sorrow) · es amarrido (feeling sorrow) · ltg žāls (feeling sorrow) · mi hinapouri (feeling sorrow) · ca trist (causing sorrow, lamentable) · vo lüg (feeling sorrow) · enm sad (feeling sorrow) · ga brónach (feeling sorrow) · enm sorweful (appearing sorrowful) · el λυπημένος (appearing sorrowful) · ka დარდიანი (feeling sorrow) · tr mahzun (appearing sorrowful) · tg ғамгин (feeling sorrow) · zh 哀傷 /哀伤 (feeling sorrow) · eu triste (feeling sorrow) · tr üzücü (causing sorrow, lamentable) · uk смутни́й (feeling sorrow) · tr melul (appearing sorrowful) · lo ກ່ຳ (feeling sorrow) · zh 憂傷 /忧伤 (feeling sorrow) · ps غمجن (appearing sorrowful) · sk smutný (appearing sorrowful) · scn scuntentu (feeling sorrow) · myv нусманя (feeling sorrow) · ky муңайынкы (feeling sorrow) · bg тъ́жен (feeling sorrow) · ko 아쉽다 (feeling sorrow) · ro abătut (feeling sorrow) · ps خواشينی (appearing sorrowful) · ngh ǀe ke ʘʻuiʻi (feeling sorrow) · da sørgelig (causing sorrow, lamentable) · az kədərli (feeling sorrow) · tr üzgün (feeling sorrow) · sco sad (feeling sorrow) · tr kırık kalpli (feeling sorrow) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌿𐍂𐍃 (feeling sorrow) · el στενοχωρημένος (feeling sorrow) · sco dule (feeling sorrow) · mh kabūrom̧ōj (causing sorrow, lamentable) · ps غمجن (feeling sorrow) · nl triest (causing sorrow, lamentable) · ms sedih (feeling sorrow) · ngh ǀeǀhii (feeling sorrow) · lou tris (feeling sorrow) · ltg skumeigs (feeling sorrow) · kk мұңайлы (feeling sorrow) · az qəmli (feeling sorrow) · gd truagh (appearing sorrowful) · ar حَزِين (feeling sorrow) · ka საბრალო (causing sorrow, lamentable) · tr üzgün (appearing sorrowful) · my ညှိုးငယ် (feeling sorrow) · tk gaýgyly (feeling sorrow) · es hacino (desus.) (feeling sorrow) · enm drery (feeling sorrow) · lo ຕອມ (feeling sorrow) · ky муңдуу (feeling sorrow) · de traurig (feeling sorrow) · gd fo ghruaim (appearing sorrowful) · el στενοχωρημένος (appearing sorrowful) · ru ско́рбный (appearing sorrowful) · qu llakisqa (feeling sorrow) · sq i mërzitur (feeling sorrow) · enm sad (appearing sorrowful) · la tristis (feeling sorrow) · mfe tris (feeling sorrow) · gd dubhach (of colours: dark, sombre, dull) · id sedih (feeling sorrow) · tr mutsuz (feeling sorrow) · uz qaygʻuli (feeling sorrow) · eo malgaja (feeling sorrow) · nl verdrietig (feeling sorrow) · yi טרויעריק (feeling sorrow) · mn уйтгартай (feeling sorrow) · haw luʻuluʻu (feeling sorrow) · vi đáng buồn (causing sorrow, lamentable) · jct бехсун (feeling sorrow) · el λυπηρός (causing sorrow, lamentable) · tk gamly (feeling sorrow) · ca patètic (slang: socially inadequate or undesirable) · fr triste (causing sorrow, lamentable) · fi surullinen (feeling sorrow) · hi उदास (feeling sorrow) · tr mağmum (feeling sorrow) · ca trist (feeling sorrow) · tk gamgyn (feeling sorrow) · gl triste (feeling sorrow) · ky капалуу (feeling sorrow) · ps خپه (feeling sorrow) · lv bēdīgs (poor in quality, deplorable) · gd tùrsach (causing sorrow, lamentable) · enm sad (causing sorrow, lamentable) · gd muladach (causing sorrow, lamentable) · is dapur (feeling sorrow) · enm sorweful (feeling sorrow) · th เศร้าโศก (feeling sorrow) · pl smutny (causing sorrow, lamentable) · nb lei seg (feeling sorrow) · nl rouwig (feeling sorrow) · sh žalostan (feeling sorrow) · rgn abatù (feeling sorrow) · lv bēdīgs (appearing sorrowful) · ar زعلان (feeling sorrow) · cy trist (feeling sorrow) · bg мра́чен (of colours: dark, sombre, dull) · tr kalbi kırık (feeling sorrow) · wni na hamu (feeling sorrow) · ru тёмный (of colours: dark, sombre, dull) · zza mırozıne (feeling sorrow) · sh тужан (feeling sorrow) · fur avilît (feeling sorrow) · fa دُژَم (feeling sorrow) · ca trista (feeling sorrow) · lb trauereg (feeling sorrow) · ro abătută (feeling sorrow) · nb trist (feeling sorrow) · bg тъ́мен (of colours: dark, sombre, dull) · zh 悲傷 /悲伤 (feeling sorrow) · tr gamlı (feeling sorrow) · et kurb (feeling sorrow) · bg печа́лен (causing sorrow, lamentable) · be су́мны (feeling sorrow) · da trist (causing sorrow, lamentable) · ps خواشينی (feeling sorrow) · ar زعلان (feeling sorrow) · ps غمجن (causing sorrow, lamentable) · ca trist (appearing sorrowful) · ka სევდიანი (feeling sorrow) · sk smutný (feeling sorrow) · vi buồn rầu (feeling sorrow) · zza mırozın (feeling sorrow) · fi säälittävä (slang: socially inadequate or undesirable) · gd brònach (feeling sorrow) · mt imdejjaq (feeling sorrow) · ca trist (slang: socially inadequate or undesirable) · fa غَمْگین (feeling sorrow) · gd fo mhulad (feeling sorrow) · sa खिन्न (feeling sorrow) · tr mahzun (feeling sorrow) · sk smutný (causing sorrow, lamentable) · mh būrom̧ōj (feeling sorrow) · bg печа́лен (feeling sorrow) · lo ກຳສວນ (feeling sorrow) · jv susah (feeling sorrow) · mn гунигтай (feeling sorrow) · sh жалостан (feeling sorrow) · bg скръ́бен (appearing sorrowful) · gv anghennal (feeling sorrow) · ka საწყალი (causing sorrow, lamentable) · sv sorgsen (feeling sorrow) · uk сумни́й (feeling sorrow) · uz gʻamgin (feeling sorrow) · yue 唔開心 /唔开心 (feeling sorrow) · ngh ǀetsʼii (feeling sorrow) · ur دُکھی (feeling sorrow) · ru мра́чный (of colours: dark, sombre, dull) · ro trist (feeling sorrow) · gd brònach (causing sorrow, lamentable) · ca deplorable (poor in quality, deplorable) · de trist (of colours: dark, sombre, dull) · bn উদাস (feeling sorrow) · zza mahzunın (causing sorrow, lamentable) · es marrido (desus.) (feeling sorrow) · mk та́жен (feeling sorrow) · gd cianail (feeling sorrow) · ar زعلان (feeling sorrow) · el θλιμμένος (appearing sorrowful) · el θλιβερός (causing sorrow, lamentable) · ja 悲しい (feeling sorrow)