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Sad: alternatives and connections

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26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
90,593 searchable synonym connections
350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
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Sad

Sated; satisfied; weary; tired.

85 useful connections shown 49 reviewed relationships and 36 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Similar meaning 22

Bad 84% connected

Bade.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Bad 84% connected

Bade.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Bittersweet 84% connected

Sweet and then bitter or bitter and then sweet; esp. sweet with a bitter after taste; hence (Fig.), pleasant but painful.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Bittersweet 84% connected

Sweet and then bitter or bitter and then sweet; esp. sweet with a bitter after taste; hence (Fig.), pleasant but painful.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Doleful 84% connected

Full of dole or grief; expressing or exciting sorrow; sorrowful; sad; dismal.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Doleful 84% connected

Full of dole or grief; expressing or exciting sorrow; sorrowful; sad; dismal.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Melancholic 84% connected

Given to melancholy; depressed; melancholy; dejected; unhappy.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Melancholic 84% connected

Given to melancholy; depressed; melancholy; dejected; unhappy.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Melancholy 84% connected

Depression of spirits; a gloomy state continuing a considerable time; deep dejection; gloominess.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Melancholy 84% connected

Depression of spirits; a gloomy state continuing a considerable time; deep dejection; gloominess.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Mournful 84% connected

Full of sorrow; expressing, or intended to express, sorrow; mourning; grieving; sad; also, causing sorrow; saddening; grievous; as, a mournful person…

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Mournful 84% connected

Full of sorrow; expressing, or intended to express, sorrow; mourning; grieving; sad; also, causing sorrow; saddening; grievous; as, a mournful person…

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Pensive 84% connected

Thoughtful, sober, or sad; employed in serious reflection; given to, or favorable to, earnest or melancholy musing.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Pensive 84% connected

Thoughtful, sober, or sad; employed in serious reflection; given to, or favorable to, earnest or melancholy musing.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Sorrowful 84% connected

Full of sorrow; exhibiting sorrow; sad; dejected; distressed.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Sorrowful 84% connected

Full of sorrow; exhibiting sorrow; sad; dejected; distressed.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Tragic 84% connected

Alt. of Tragical

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Tragic 84% connected

Alt. of Tragical

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Tragical 84% connected

Of or pertaining to tragedy; of the nature or character of tragedy; as, a tragic poem; a tragic play or representation.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Tragical 84% connected

Of or pertaining to tragedy; of the nature or character of tragedy; as, a tragic poem; a tragic play or representation.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Wistful 84% connected

Longing; wishful; desirous.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Wistful 84% connected

Longing; wishful; desirous.

oewn 2023 50% interchangeable

Open English WordNet links these adjective senses as similar in meaning; they are not necessarily interchangeable.

Derivationally related 2

Sadness 74% connected

Heaviness; firmness.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

Sadness 74% connected

Heaviness; firmness.

oewn 2023 15% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records a derivational relationship between these word forms.

See also 2

Unhappy 66% connected

Not happy or fortunate; unfortunate; unlucky; as, affairs have taken an unhappy turn.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet provides this as a see-also lexical relationship.

Unhappy 66% connected

Not happy or fortunate; unfortunate; unlucky; as, affairs have taken an unhappy turn.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet provides this as a see-also lexical relationship.

Synonym 5

Deplorable 92% connected

Worthy of being deplored or lamented; lamentable; causing grief; hence, sad; calamitous; grievous; wretched; as, life's evils are deplorable.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Distressing 92% connected

of Distress

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Lamentable 92% connected

Mourning; sorrowful; expressing grief; as, a lamentable countenance.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Pitiful 92% connected

Full of pity; tender-hearted; compassionate; kind; merciful; sympathetic.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Sorry 92% connected

Grieved for the loss of some good; pained for some evil; feeling regret; -- now generally used to express light grief or affliction, but formerly oft…

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Near synonym 9

Unhappy 92% connected

Not happy or fortunate; unfortunate; unlucky; as, affairs have taken an unhappy turn.

general 78% interchangeable

Unhappy overlaps with sad, but its tone, intensity or usual context may differ. Check the definition before substituting it.

Sorrowful 90% connected

Full of sorrow; exhibiting sorrow; sad; dejected; distressed.

general 74% interchangeable

Sorrowful overlaps with sad, but its tone, intensity or usual context may differ. Check the definition before substituting it.

Dejected 86% connected

of Deject

general 66% interchangeable

Dejected overlaps with sad, but its tone, intensity or usual context may differ. Check the definition before substituting it.

Melancholy 86% connected

Depression of spirits; a gloomy state continuing a considerable time; deep dejection; gloominess.

emotion tone 48% interchangeable more formal

Melancholy suggests reflective, lingering sadness.

A sad mood. / A melancholy mood.
Melancholy 84% connected

Depression of spirits; a gloomy state continuing a considerable time; deep dejection; gloominess.

words for sadness 55% interchangeable

A thoughtful or lingering sadness.

Miserable 84% connected

Very unhappy; wretched.

general 62% interchangeable

Miserable overlaps with sad, but its tone, intensity or usual context may differ. Check the definition before substituting it.

Mournful 82% connected

Full of sorrow; expressing, or intended to express, sorrow; mourning; grieving; sad; also, causing sorrow; saddening; grievous; as, a mournful person…

general 58% interchangeable

Mournful overlaps with sad, but its tone, intensity or usual context may differ. Check the definition before substituting it.

Despondent 80% connected

Marked by despondence; given to despondence; low-spirited; as, a despondent manner; a despondent prisoner.

general 54% interchangeable

Despondent overlaps with sad, but its tone, intensity or usual context may differ. Check the definition before substituting it.

Downcast 78% connected

Cast downward; directed to the ground, from bashfulness, modesty, dejection, or guilt.

general 50% interchangeable

Downcast overlaps with sad, but its tone, intensity or usual context may differ. Check the definition before substituting it.

Stronger synonym 4

Despondent 92% connected

Marked by despondence; given to despondence; low-spirited; as, a despondent manner; a despondent prisoner.

words for sadness 62% interchangeable stronger

Without hope because of sadness or difficulty.

Devastated 92% connected

of Devastate

emotion intensity 35% interchangeable stronger

Devastated expresses overwhelming shock or grief.

He was sad by the news. / He was devastated by the news.
Sorrowful 86% connected

Full of sorrow; exhibiting sorrow; sad; dejected; distressed.

emotion intensity 58% interchangeable more formal stronger

Sorrowful expresses deep sadness, often connected to loss.

She looked sad. / She looked sorrowful.

Softer synonym 2

Disappointed 88% connected

Defeated of expectation or hope; balked; as, a disappointed person or hope.

words for sadness 62% interchangeable softer

Sad because hopes or expectations were not met.

Formal equivalent 1

Antonym 2

Glad 94% connected

Pleased; joyous; happy; cheerful; gratified; -- opposed to sorry, sorrowful, or unhappy; -- said of persons, and often followed by of, at, that, or b…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records these words as lexical opposites.

Glad 94% connected

Pleased; joyous; happy; cheerful; gratified; -- opposed to sorry, sorrowful, or unhappy; -- said of persons, and often followed by of, at, that, or b…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records these words as lexical opposites.

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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.