sadden

sadden — verb

1. to cause a person to feel unhappiness or sorrow, typically after learning about

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to cause a person to feel unhappiness or sorrow, typically after learning about something disappointing or unfortunate.

Example

Eli was saddened by the news of his grandmother's death.

passive: be saddened + by [news/event]

It saddened Hyun to learn that the local library would close.

It + saddened + [person] + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • be saddened by
  • be saddened to hear/learn
  • deeply saddened
  • saddened + that-clause
  • saddened + to-infinitive
Synonyms
  • upset

    broader; includes worry, anger, or disappointment, not just sadness

  • depress

    stronger; suggests a lasting feeling of hopelessness or low mood

  • distress

    implies anxiety, worry, or pain alongside the sadness

  • grieve

    more intense; specifically about a loss or death of someone or something

Antonyms
  • cheer

    to make someone feel happier or more hopeful

  • delight

    to give someone great pleasure or joy

Grammar Patterns

be saddened + by [event/news]

It saddens + [person] + to-infinitive

be saddened + that-clause

Usage Note

Commonly used in the passive voice (be saddened by / to hear / that). The subject that causes the feeling is usually an event, piece of news, or situation rather than a person. Unlike upset or distress, sadden suggests a quiet, reflective sadness rather than strong emotional agitation.

Common Mistakes

I saddened when I heard the news.
I was saddened when I heard the news.
'sadden' is transitive; the intransitive use meaning 'become sad' is non-standard.
The news saddened me very sad.
The news saddened me.
'sadden' already means 'make sad'; do not add a second adjective describing the emotional result.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five verbs describe causing negative emotions, but they differ in intensity and type. Sadden is the mildest and most restrained — it suggests a quiet, reflective unhappiness, often triggered by disappointing news. Upset is broader and more colloquial, covering anger, worry, or sadness (e.g., 'The lost keys upset her.'). Depress is heavier, implying a sense of hopelessness or low spirits that lasts ('Rainy weather depresses me.'). Distress adds anxiety or physical discomfort to the sadness ('The crying baby distressed the passengers.'). Grieve is the strongest, reserved for deep sorrow over a death or permanent loss ('The community grieved the loss of the old theater.'). For everyday sadness without strong emotional turmoil, sadden is the most appropriate choice.

upset ↗depress ↗distress ↗grieve ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be saddened to hear
  • be saddened to learn
  • be saddened by the fact that

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Formed within English by adding the verb-forming suffix '-en' to the adjective 'sad' (Old English 'sæd', meaning 'sated, weary'). The suffix '-en' turns adjectives into verbs that mean 'to cause to become', as seen in 'darken', 'widen', and 'strengthen'. The verb 'sadden' emerged in the late 16th century, originally meaning 'to make weary or heavy-hearted'.