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sadness

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English sadnesse, equivalent to sad +‎ -ness.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈsædnəs/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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sadness (countable and uncountable, plural sadnesses)

  1. (uncountable) The state or emotion of being sad.
    Synonyms: forlornness, melancholy; see also Thesaurus:sadness
    • c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
      But sorrow that is couch'd in seeming gladness
      Is like that mirth fate turns to sudden sadness.
    • 1707, John Dunton, “Mourning Joy: or a Paradox in Praiſe of Sadneſs”, in Athenian Sport[:] […] , page 423:
      I mean not then under the name of Sadneſs to defend effeminate Bewailings and Lamentations; let them that ſubject themſelves to this weakeſt Impatience, be alſo ſubject to the Lycian Law, that bound theſe kind of Lamenters to be array'd like Women: […]
    • 2023 February 13, Deidre McPhillips, “Teens, especially girls, are experiencing more violence, suicidal thoughts and mental health challenges, CDC survey finds”, in CNN‎[1]:
      The survey found increasing mental health challenges, experiences of violence, and suicidal thoughts and behavior among all teens. More than 40% of high school students said that feelings of sadness or hopelessness prevented them from engaging in their regular activities for at least two weeks of the year.
    • 2025 April 28, Madeline Holcombe, “It might be time to ‘reparent’ yourself. Here’s how to get started”, in CNN‎[2]:
      The compassion to yourself comes in validating the feelings your inner child is having –– the stress, fear, anger or sadness — and make adult decisions about the best way to move forward, Lev said.
  2. (countable) An event in one's life that causes sadness.
    Synonyms: misfortune, woe; see also Thesaurus:woe
    She has experienced many sadnesses in her forty years.

Translations

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