great sadness

USAGE SUMMARY

"great sadness" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used when expressing a strong emotion of sadness, such as "She felt a great sadness when she heard the news".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Great sadness.

The New York Times

There's a great sadness.

Independent

We are left with great sadness".

Independent

I felt a great sadness.

The Guardian

With great respect and great sadness.

The New York Times

We have great sadness in our hearts.

The New York Times

It's with great sadness we have to move on.

Independent

With great sadness I mourn the loss of my sister.

The New York Times

With great sadness we mourn the passing of Mel.

The New York Times

His loss is a great sadness for all of us".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Mirpanpa [Anger; literally 'hot in throat']; tjituru tjituru pulka [great sadness] and watjilpa [homesickness].

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "great sadness" to express a significant feeling of sorrow or loss, especially in formal or neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "great sadness" in casual conversations or informal writing, as it can sound overly dramatic or unnatural. Consider using simpler alternatives like "very sad" or "disappointed" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "great sadness" functions as a noun phrase, where "great" modifies the noun "sadness", intensifying the emotion. Ludwig shows the phrase is typically used to express a significant feeling of sorrow or grief.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "great sadness" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express a significant feeling of sorrow or loss. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English, especially when conveying a strong emotion. While the phrase is appropriate for neutral to formal contexts like news reports and formal announcements, it might sound overly dramatic in casual conversations. Consider alternatives like "profound sorrow" or "deep grief" to diversify your writing. The primary function of "great sadness" is to convey grief or empathy. It is most commonly found in News & Media, Science and Wiki sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

profound sorrow

Replaces "sadness" with "sorrow" to convey a deep and intense feeling of grief.

deep sorrow

Similar to "profound sorrow", emphasizes the intensity of the sorrow experienced.

immense grief

Substitutes "sadness" with "grief", highlighting the emotional suffering.

deep grief

Similar to "immense grief", emphasizes the emotional suffering experienced.

extreme sorrow

Replaces "great" with "extreme" to intensify the feeling of sorrow.

intense sadness

Synonymous replacement of "great" with "intense".

deep depression

Expresses profound sadness that has become a persistent state.

heavy heart

Uses a metaphorical expression to describe the feeling of sadness.

feeling blue

A more informal expression for sadness, often used to describe a temporary state of unhappiness.

melancholy

A state of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

FAQs

How can I use "great sadness" in a sentence?

You can use "great sadness" to express a strong feeling of sorrow. For example, "It is with "great sadness" that we announce his passing" or "She felt "great sadness" upon hearing the news".

What are some alternatives to "great sadness"?

You can use alternatives like "profound sorrow", "deep grief", or "immense grief" depending on the context and the intensity of emotion you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "great sadness" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "great sadness" is more suited for formal or neutral contexts. In casual conversation, consider using less formal alternatives like "very sad" or "bummed out".

What's the difference between "great sadness" and "deep sorrow"?

While both express significant sorrow, "deep sorrow" might suggest a more personal or introspective feeling of sadness, while "great sadness" can be a more general expression of sorrow or loss. Both "great sadness" and "deep sorrow" convey an intense emotion.