sadness
36 synonyms and 1 antonyms for sadness, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The state of feeling sad; sorrow.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use sadness
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From sad + the noun-forming suffix -ness.
Full origin of sadness →Frequently asked questions
What does “sadness” mean?
The word “sadness” means the state of feeling sad; sorrow. In plain terms, the feeling of being sad.
How do you pronounce “sadness”?
“Sadness” is pronounced SAD-nuhs (/ˈsædnəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “sadness” in a sentence?
Here is “sadness” used in a sentence: “A deep sadness settled over the house after the funeral.”
What is another word for “sadness”?
Words with a similar meaning to “sadness” include blueness, tristesse, mirthless, blues, crestfallenness and dejection.
What is the opposite of “sadness”?
The opposite of “sadness” — its antonyms — is happiness.
What part of speech is “sadness”?
“Sadness” is a noun.
Is “sadness” a common word?
“Sadness” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between sadness and depression?
Sadness is a normal, usually temporary emotion felt in response to a specific event or loss. Depression is a lasting mental-health condition that can persist without an obvious cause and typically affects sleep, energy, and daily functioning.
What is the difference between sadness and grief?
Sadness is a general feeling of sorrow that can arise from many causes. Grief is a deeper, more prolonged sadness specifically brought on by loss, most often the death of someone close.
What is the opposite of sadness?
The most direct opposites of sadness are happiness and joy. Related antonyms include gladness, cheerfulness, and contentment.
Is sadness an emotion or a mood?
Sadness can be both. As an emotion it is a short-lived reaction to a particular trigger, while as a mood it can be a longer, more diffuse state of feeling low without a single clear cause.