sadden

verb

sad·​den ˈsa-dᵊn How to pronounce sadden (audio)
saddened; saddening ˈsad-niŋ How to pronounce sadden (audio)
ˈsa-dᵊn-iŋ
Synonyms of saddennext

transitive verb

: to make sad

intransitive verb

: to become sad

Synonyms of sadden

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Examples of sadden in a Sentence

It saddens me that we could not agree. We were saddened to see how ill she looks. She was saddened over the death of her friend. Her face saddened when she heard the news.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones said on social media that she was saddened. — Shayna Jacobs, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026 Al Jardine, a fellow Beach Boys co-founder who tours in a separate group and has sharply criticized Love’s behavior in the past, is saddened about how his former friend arrived at this point. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 Many in the arts community are saddened and concerned about losing Robert Rauschenberg’s former New York home and studio, which has served as an exhibition and research site. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026 The move to quickly shut down all locations on Friday saddened some New Yorkers with a sweet tooth and marked the culmination of a feverish growth spurt that included a messy final year for the company and changing consumer habits. — New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sadden

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of sadden was in 1565

Rhymes for sadden

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Browse Nearby Words

Sādāt
sadden
saddeningly
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Cite this Entry

“Sadden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sadden. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sadden

verb
sad·​den ˈsad-ᵊn How to pronounce sadden (audio)
saddened; saddening -niŋ How to pronounce sadden (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become sad
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