Synonyms

sadden

American

[sad-n] / ˈsæd n /

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become sad.

sadden British

/ ˈsædən /

verb

to make or become sad

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Etymology

Origin of sadden

First recorded in 1590–1600; sad + -en ¹

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.

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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.

"My death should not sadden you but steel you even more for the struggle you are waging," one of the men, lawyer Mitsos Remboutsikas, had written to his family.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 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

“Amazing Endocrinologist! So sadden for her loss. The staff was just as likeable and professional as her, which is really hard to find in the medical industry,” wrote one patient.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2025

“Once it ever changes to no DH, then it will probably never change back, and that’s something that would sadden me,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 28, 2021

Everyone’s face had begun to sadden and grow tense.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023