sadness

American  

[sad-nis] / ˈsæd nɪs /

noun

1. the quality or state of being sad; sorrow.

   It’s frustrating to know the sadness you’re feeling and not be able to help you.

2. an instance of sorrow.

   How can you be so unaware of the sadnesses these children have experienced?

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Etymology

Origin of sadness

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sadnesse; sad ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )

Explanation

Someone who's blue feels sadness, like a little girl whose best friend has moved away. Use the noun sadness when you're talking about sorrow. Sadness may be the overwhelming mood at a funeral, for example, or an elderly man might describe his life's greatest sadness as letting his childhood sweetheart get away. An interesting thing about sadness is that its original meaning was "seriousness." It wasn't until the 1600s that it came to mean "full of sorrow."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sadness

After her death, Peston kept the property for "a while" before deciding to sell because he said being there reinforced the "terrible sadness and grief" he felt.

From BBC ● Jul. 19, 2026

"I don't have the means" to repair it, the 45-year-old cleaner said, voicing sadness about the loss of human life Venezuela has suffered.

From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026

After the initial excitement wears off, many people face loneliness, sadness, guilt and grief — aspects of the move that aren’t often discussed before one.

From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved Lauren,” G.R.L.’s statement read.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Then she shakes her head, as if to throw the sadness off.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Related Words

• anguish
• grief
• heartache
• heartbreak
• hopelessness
• melancholy
• misery
• mourning
• poignancy
• sorrow