saddening 1 of 2

adjective

as in sad
causing unhappiness the saddening discovery that something is threatening the birds in the area

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

saddening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of sadden
as in depressing
to make sad the arrival of winter always saddens me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of saddening
Adjective
Actor Chadwick Boseman died of colon cancer at 43, shocking and saddening fans. — Usa Today, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 The result is a bonus both surprising and saddening. — Bob Brody, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026 The backlash from certain parts of the media has been extremely saddening, particularly given how hard John works to raise awareness and understanding. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026 Gates has assembled a stimulating, illuminating, maddening, saddening, but often inspiring, story of their relations with the world and one another. — Robert Lloyd, Houston Chronicle, 4 Feb. 2026 The iconic Hollywood Studios archway has been demolished at Walt Disney World, saddening fans. — Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025 That would be a saddening surrender to might makes right. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2025 One of the more saddening aspects of Animol (a misspelled word seen carved into a cell wall in solitary) is the change in Troy’s gaze — from alert and observant to constantly on edge, his eyes almost involuntarily darting in every direction at once to spot a threat. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
The news was saddening for Jewell — but also alarming for the defense. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for saddening
  1. sad
  2. depressing
  3. pathetic
  4. troubling
  5. unfortunate
  6. worrying
Adjective
  • State Drive, an ugly black roadway, separates the Science Center and its new addition from the park’s Rose Garden, and serves as a sad connector to the rest of the park.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • As more details came out, the sad truth of Perry’s relapses and drug hustle emerged.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of sad
Verb
  • That's also depressing consumer sentiment and squeezing people coping with higher prices, according to economists.
    — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Hall-effect switches come in 3-pin or 5-pin varieties, and the polarity of the switch’s magnet must be compatible with the PCB’s sensors, or depressing the switch may not trigger the sensor beneath it.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • His pathetic, dangerous charade reminds me of an infamous voter fraud case from 30 years ago.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • There’s nothing more important than defeating his pathetic opponent, Mike Collins.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of pathetic
Verb
  • Many of those concerns have centered on the often-troubling biases programmed into AI platforms.
    — Jakob McWhinney, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Troubleshooting Tips If your Venus flytrap looks unwell, but is otherwise well watered, here’s what may be troubling your plant.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of troubling
Adjective
  • For many people, however, the presentation instead bears an uncanny and unfortunate resemblance to imagery used in Nazi-era Germany.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The Giannis Antetokounmpo era is off to an unfortunate start, as the Heat is 0-2 to start a season for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Verb
  • The activists who once demanded radical change begin worrying about their children’s safety, their schools, and whether the neighborhood is a decent place to grow up.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Public support for Israel in the United States has plummeted, worrying many Israeli voters.
    — Daniel Estrin, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of worrying

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Cite this Entry

“Saddening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/saddening. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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