# saddest

/ˈsædəst/ (US) · /sˈædəst/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/saddest
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

feeling the most unhappy or showing the most sorrow compared to everyone or everything else. It is the form of 'sad' you use for the extreme limit.

For teachers: the superlative form of 'sad', indicating the highest degree of sorrow, unhappiness, or unfortunate circumstances. Follows standard superlative syntax, typically preceded by the definite article.

## Examples

- That was the saddest movie I have ever seen.
- The saddest part of the story is when the two main characters finally lose touch after years of friendship.
- Historians often point to the final chapter of the memoir as the saddest passage, as it details the author's profound sense of isolation during his final years.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the most saddest" but "the saddest" — Double superlatives are incorrect; because 'sad' is a one-syllable word, it takes the '-est' ending instead of 'most'.

## Usage notes

- Superlative form of 'sad'. Typically preceded by 'the' and followed by a noun or used after a linking verb.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.