sad

comparative sadder · comparative more sad · superlative saddest · superlative most sad

1. Emotionally negative.
   1. headingFeeling sorrow; sorrowful, mournful.

      She gets sad when he's away.

      2 more examples

      Firſt were we ſad, fearing you would not come, / Now ſadder that you come ſo vnprouided:[…]

      c. 1590–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii], page 219, column 2

      […]Th’ Angelic Guards aſcended, mute and ſad[…]

      1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, line 18

      Synonyms: depressed, down in the dumps, glum, melancholy, discomforted, distressed, uncomfortable, unhappy · Antonyms: cheerful, gleeful, happy, upbeat, berserk, blissed out, blithe, buoyant

   2. headingAppearing sorrowful.

      The puppy had a sad little face.

      1 more example

      We need a sad man. Give us a sad man.” Tomo gave the look of a sad man, then followed with the body of a sad man. “That's it, more of that. can you manufacture a mole right here? Yes, a very ugly mole. Right here, on the chin.[…]

      2010 February 28, Eric Rentschler, Itoh's Ghost, iUniverse, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 54

   3. headingCausing sorrow; lamentable.

      It's a sad fact that most rapes go unreported.

      2 more examples

      The Great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad, / For all their wars are merry and all their songs are sad.

      1911, G. K. Chesterton, The Ballad of the White Horse

      The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness, mean and embarrassing and sad.

      1963, Margery Allingham, “Eye Witness”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 249

      Synonyms: deplorable, saddening, atrabiliary, atrabilious, deplorable, depressing, distressing, grievous

   4. headingPoor in quality, bad; shameful, deplorable; later, regrettable, poor.

      That's the saddest-looking pickup truck I've ever seen.

      2 more examples

      Heaven knows what cash he got, or blood he spilt, / A sad old fellow was he, if you please[…].

      1819 July 15, [Lord Byron], Don Juan, London: […] Thomas Davison, […], →OCLC, canto II, stanza CXXVII, page 182

      Musk is betting that lonely users will trade their cash (and last shreds of their connection to human life) for a bot that is explicitly designed to flirt with sad men, as the saddest man on Earth spearheaded it.

      2025 July 16, Luis Prada, “Elon Musk’s Grok AI Now Includes a Pornographic Waifu Chatbot”, in Vice

      Synonyms: pitiful, sorry, ass, bad, base, below par, bottom-shelf, BTEC · Antonyms: decent

   5. headingOf colours: dark, deep; later, sombre, dull.

      sad-coloured clothes

      1679, Izaak Walton, The Life of Bishop Robert Sanderson

      2 more examples

      […]this is either uſed crude, and called ſulphur vive, and is of a ſadder colour; or after depuration, ſuch as we have in magdeleons or rols of a lighter yellow.

      1650, Thomas Browne, “Compendiously of Sundry Other Common Tenents, Concerning Minerall and Terreous Bodies, Which Examined, Prove Either False or Dubious”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], 2nd edition, London: […] A[braham] Miller, for Edw[ard] Dod and Nath[aniel] Ekins, […], →OCLC, 2nd book, page 69

      Woad, or wade, is used by the dyers to lay the foundation of many colours, especially all sad colours.

      1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC

      Synonyms: bland, colourless, dim, dingy, dull, faint, lackluster, leaden

2. obsoleteSated, having had one's fill; satisfied, weary.
3. obsoleteSteadfast, valiant.

   The fearefull newes that whilſt the flame doth but begin, Sad pollicie may ſerue to quench the fire: […]

   1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I

4. obsoleteDignified, serious, grave.

   Therfore it nedeth that better prouysion. Were founde for youthe by sad and wyse counsayle

   1509, Sebastian Brant, translated by Alexander Barclay, The Ship of Fools,

   1 more example

   Vproſe Sir Guyon, in bright armour clad, / And to his purpoſd iourney him prepar'd: / With him the Palmer eke in habit ſad, / Him ſelfe addreſt to that aduenture hard: […]

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto XI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 3, page 348

   Synonyms: staid, stern, austere, frightful, demure, serious, grave, earnest

5. obsoleteNaughty; troublesome; wicked.

   In ſuch places, it would not be doubted, that a grim Daniel Scroggins, and an aproned Sam Smith, might be found—ſad tipſy fellows, both of them, to whoſe ingenuity this or that mechanical improvement had been due.

   1860, Isaac Taylor, “Essay III. Modern Advancements and Lay Inventors.”, in Ultimate Civilization and Other Essays, London: Bell and Daldy […], →OCLC, section IX, page 227

   1 more example

   Mr. Santon laughed, and merely said,—"Oh, you cruel beauty!" returning to his paper again; but, seated in the bay-window was one, who could not thus lightly look upon the conduct of the coquettish Winnie, for it was evident she was a sad coquette.

   1859, Ferna Vale, Natalie; or, A Gem Among the Sea-Weeds

   Synonyms: mischievous, roguish, vexatious

6. slangUnfashionable; socially inadequate or undesirable.

   I can't believe you use drugs; you're so sad!

   1 more example

   You’d have to be really sad to wear a shirt like that.

7. dialectalSoggy (to refer to pastries).
8. obsoleteHeavy; weighty; ponderous; close; hard.

   sad bread

   2 more examples

   […]his hand, more ſad then lomp of lead,[…]

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 30, page 299

   Chalky lands are naturally cold and sad.

   1707, J[ohn] Mortimer, The Whole Art of Husbandry; or, The Way of Managing and Improving of Land. […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for H[enry] Mortlock […], and J[onathan] Robinson […], →OCLC

present singular third person sads · participle present sadding · participle past sadded · past sadded

1. archaictransitiveTo make melancholy; to sadden or grieve (someone).

   16??, John Webster, Appius and Virginia My father's wondrous pensive, and withal / With a suppress'd rage left his house displeas'd, / And so in post is hurried to the camp: / It sads me much; to expel which melancholy, / I have sent for company.

1. InternethumoroussometimesExpressing contempt, ridicule or disgust; bah!

plural sads

1. alternativeAlternative form of saad (“Arabic letter”).

plural SADs

1. abbreviationinitialismmedicineInitialism of seasonal affective disorder.
2. abbreviationinitialismInitialism of standard American diet.
3. abbreviationinitialismhuman sciencesInitialism of social anxiety disorder.
4. abbreviationinitialismX-ray crystallographyInitialism of single-wavelength anomalous dispersion.

1. USabbreviationinitialismInitialism of Special Activities Division.
2. abbreviationinitialismIndian politicsInitialism of Shiromani Akali Dal (Indian political party)