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

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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
  • That might also explain the movie’s attempts to supercharge its few action sequences, as if the filmmakers realized belatedly that a sad book without much incident wasn’t exactly prime summer studio release fodder.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Obviously, a really sad story and hard to listen to at times.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Verb
  • Also helping is Kevin Warsh, the new Federal Reserve head, who is working to get our central bank focused on currency stability as the way to fight inflation, rather than depressing economic activity.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • The high-pressure system that’s causing temperature spikes, Ciliberti said, is also depressing much of the particulate matter, pushing it closer to the ground.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of depressing
Adjective
  • The outfield production continues to be a concern, and the overall offensive production is pathetic.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Barkley got a pathetic 34% of team rushing attempts inside the 5-yard line (37th among RBs).
    — Michael Salfino, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of pathetic
Verb
  • In the final, Simon had little to do as Argentina registered only two shots in 120 minutes of action, with neither troubling the Athletic Club goalkeeper.
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Campbell said Moore wanted to discuss what was troubling her privately but never got the chance.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026
Definition of troubling
Adjective
  • There are no Cubs players involved in the TikTok series, the Cubs told me, which is unfortunate since Crow-Armstrong has acting in his DNA — his mother and father are both actors — and probably would be at least as good as Damon.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Every mosquito has a type Count me among the unfortunate souls who are mosquito magnets; something about my body chemistry is irresistible to those tiny bloodsucking fiends.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Verb
  • This was several shades darker, worrying about economic upheaval, social unrest, cyberattacks, bioterrorism—and most important, the failure of experts and governments to take these threats seriously enough.
    — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Celeste begins worrying about her mother-in-law after her credit cards are declined and her outfits are increasingly out of place, but things begin to click when Mary-Louise gives Max, Josh and Ziggy expensive cars.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 27 Aug. 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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