sadden
Americanverb (used with or without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
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.
Sadden and numb right now…Sending my thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and @Marlins organization!!!
From Time • Sep. 25, 2016
Sadden by the news of the recent death of BMX Legend, Dave Mirra.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2016
Cries of grief and lamentation Reach us in the Blessed Islands: Cries of anguish from the living, 175Calling back their friends departed, Sadden us with useless sorrow.
From The Song of Hiawatha An Epic Poem by Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth
Speak of it to all the people, That henceforward and forever 185They no more with lamentations Sadden the souls of the departed In the Islands of the Blessed.
From The Song of Hiawatha An Epic Poem by Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth
Sadden, the whole summer," she repeated, "a summer?
From The Mettle of the Pasture by Allen, James Lane
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.
