The difference between Sad and Unhappy

When used as adjectives, sad means feeling sorrow, whereas unhappy means not happy.


Unhappy is also noun with the meaning: an individual who is not happy.

check bellow for the other definitions of Sad and Unhappy

  1. Sad as an adjective:

    Emotionally negative. Feeling sorrow; sorrowful, mournful. Appearing sorrowful. Causing sorrow; lamentable. Poor in quality, bad; shameful, deplorable; later, regrettable, poor. Of colours: dark, deep; later, sombre, dull.

    Examples:

    "She gets sad when he's away."

    "The puppy had a sad little face."

    "It's a sad fact that most rapes go unreported."

    "That's the saddest-looking pickup truck I've ever seen."

  2. Sad as an adjective (obsolete):

    Sated, having had one's fill; satisfied, weary.

  3. Sad as an adjective (obsolete):

    Steadfast, valiant.

  4. Sad as an adjective (obsolete):

    Dignified, serious, grave.

  5. Sad as an adjective (obsolete):

    Naughty; troublesome; wicked.

  6. Sad as an adjective (slang):

    Unfashionable; socially inadequate or undesirable.

    Examples:

    "I can't believe you use drugs; you're so sad!"

  7. Sad as an adjective (dialect):

    Soggy (to refer to pastries).

  8. Sad as an adjective (obsolete):

    Heavy; weighty; ponderous; close; hard.

    Examples:

    "sad bread"

  1. Sad as a noun:

  1. Unhappy as an adjective:

    Not happy; sad.

  2. Unhappy as an adjective:

    Not satisfied; unsatisfied.

    Examples:

    "An unhappy customer is unlikely to return to your shop."

  3. Unhappy as an adjective (mostly, dated):

    Not lucky; unlucky.

    Examples:

    "The doomed lovers must have been born under an unhappy star."

  4. Unhappy as an adjective (mostly, dated):

    Not suitable; unsuitable.

  1. Unhappy as a noun:

    An individual who is not happy.