sadden
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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saddens,
present (3rd person singular)
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saddened,
past participle, past
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saddening
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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saddensimple
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saddenssimple
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have saddenedperfect
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has saddenedperfect
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am saddeningprogressive
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are saddeningprogressive
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is saddeningprogressive
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have been saddeningperfect progressive
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has been saddeningperfect progressive
Past
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saddenedsimple
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had saddenedperfect
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was saddeningprogressive
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were saddeningprogressive
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had been saddeningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sadden
Explanation
To sadden is to make someone feel sad, or to become sad. The death of a beloved dog is likely to sadden the whole family. You can say that it saddens your friends when they see vulnerable people bullied or discriminated against. You can also say that your friends sadden you when they tell you about pollution that's causing animals to go extinct. Before the verb sadden came along in the 17th century, the verb meaning "to make sad" was sade, from an Old English root.
Vocabulary lists containing sadden
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.
See Examples For:
"I deny having abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman. These accusations are absolutely false and deeply sadden me," the 82-year-old wrote on his Instagram account.
From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026
Responding on Instagram, Iglesias said: "I deny having abused, coerced, or disrespected any woman. These accusations are absolutely false and deeply sadden me."
From BBC ● Jan. 16, 2026
“Two things sadden me about this investigation,” Johnson said.
From Seattle Times ● May 31, 2023
My absence from Christmas would sadden them even more.
From Salon ● Dec. 22, 2021
A rosebush grows there, its leaves withered by frost The sight does not sadden me, for I know the bush will bloom again next year.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
That saddens me massively and showed that our way of life has been hugely affected and trampled on as a result of these threats.
From BBC ● May 2, 2026
“It saddens me to see how much celebration there’s been—especially on a campus that advertises itself as a place where you should feel safe to be you.”
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2025
"A loss that deeply saddens our city and the entire world," a Roma statement read.
From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2025
News through her attorney, “It saddens me beyond belief that my husband’s character could be slandered in such a way.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2025
“And again, it both saddens and humors me that you don’t see the importance of the events. It means your mind hasn’t evolved yet to be able to see them for what they really are.”
From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner
Foreign Secretary and MP for Doncaster North Ed Miliband said he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the incident and sent his "thoughts and deepest condolences to the family of the individual who died."
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
Devon’s departure has saddened and disappointed Larry Nichols, people close to him said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
"This has been one of the most difficult weeks in our history, and I know many of you are angry, saddened, and struggling," Kotlikoff continued.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
All Elite Wrestling is saddened to announce the passing of Benjamin Satterley, aka Pac.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
He was surprised and a little saddened by the photographs.
From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz
"It is a very saddening incident," Ali Mallahi, father of the bride and owner of the building that was hit, said in a video carried by state TV.
From Barron's ● Sep. 3, 2026
"It is a very saddening incident... Thank God the casualties were not higher."
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
"It’s saddening to hear about all the threats to their jobs," said college senior Nicole Droeger Stephens.
From Salon ● May 31, 2025
At that time, Mr Eastwood said it was saddening that such displays had become “normalised” and happen annually.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2024
It is invariably saddening to look through new eyes at things upon which you have expended your own powers of adjustment.
From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
