Are you looking for the perfect negative word that starts with an S if this is the case we have you covered? We have listed over 100 with their descriptions so you can find the right word for the right occasion to sound brilliant.
Having a comprehensive list of negative words starting with “S” is essential as it helps people to communicate more efficiently and precisely. Negative language is used to express criticism, dissatisfaction, or disapproval, and to describe situations or emotions that evoke unpleasant feelings.
It is particularly useful in persuasive writing or marketing to stress liability, problematic outcomes, or drawbacks in a product or service.
Adding negative words can also be an effective communication tool for expressing empathy, acknowledging challenges or concerns, and showing understanding toward others.
However, the use of negative words should be done carefully, because overuse can make the language appear overly critical or pessimistic. Hence, it is essential not to exceed the boundary of negativity and be conscious of the tone and context in which these words are being used.
136 Negative Words Starting With The Letter S (List)
| Sadness – feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy |
| Sorrow – a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment or other misfortune |
| Suffering – experiencing pain or hardship |
| Shame – a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior |
| Sarcasm – the use of irony to mock or convey contempt |
| Scorn – a feeling of contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior |
| Sluggish – slow-moving or inactive; lacking energy or enthusiasm |
| Stale – no longer fresh or pleasant to eat or smell |
| Stupidity – the quality or state of being foolish or unintelligent |
| Sterile – free from bacteria or other living organisms; lacking in interest or vitality |
| Sordid – involving immoral or unethical behavior; dirty or squalid |
| Sour – having an acidic or bitter taste; unpleasant or unfriendly |
| Skepticism – a skeptical attitude; doubt as to the truth of something |
| Solitude – the state of being alone or isolated |
| Strife – bitter conflict or struggle |
| Stigma – a mark of disgrace or shame; a negative association |
| Suppression – the act of suppressing or preventing something from being expressed or revealed |
| Sarcophagus – a stone coffin, typically adorned with a sculpture or inscription |
| Swindle – to cheat or defraud someone out of money or property |
| Subversion – the act of undermining or overthrowing a system or government |
| Sullen – bad-tempered and sulky; gloomy and dull |
| Slavery – the state of being owned and controlled by another person |
| Sabotage – to intentionally damage or undermine something, especially for political or military purposes |
| Slapdash – done hastily and carelessly; lacking attention to detail |
| Sinister – giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen |
| Somber – dark and gloomy; serious and solemn |
| Spiteful – showing or caused by malice or ill will |
| Selfishness – the quality or state of being concerned only with one’s own interests and desires, often at the expense of others |
| Self-centered – excessively focused on oneself and one’s own interests or needs |
| Scowl – to have a facial expression of displeasure or anger |
| Sneer – to smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner |
| Stereotype – a widely held but oversimplified and inaccurate image or idea of a particular group of people |
| Suspect – to believe or think that someone is guilty or up to no good |
| Sadistic – deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others |
| Scrutiny – close examination or inspection |
| Secrecy – the state or quality of being secret or concealed |
| Senseless – lacking sense or meaning; foolish or pointless |
| Separation – the act of dividing or separating something or someone |
| Sickness – a state of physical or mental illness or disease |
| Stench – a strong and unpleasant smell |
| Strain – a state of tension or stress; a group of organisms within a species that have distinct characteristics |
| Stumble – to trip or lose one’s balance while walking or running |
| Stutter – to speak with involuntary pauses or repetitions |
| Submissive – obedient or willing to submit to the authority of others |
| Suspicion – a feeling or belief that something is true without having any proof |
| Stagnant – not |
| Sin – an immoral or wicked act |
| Scam – a fraudulent or deceptive scheme |
| Stereotypical – conforming to a fixed or oversimplified image or idea of a particular group |
| Scapegoat – a person or group who is blamed for the mistakes or faults of others |
| Scream – a loud and piercing cry, often expressing fear or pain |
| Snobbery – the attitude or behavior of someone who believes they are superior to others |
| Slothful – lazy and lacking energy or motivation |
| Stifling – oppressive and suffocating, often in terms of heat or air quality |
| Supremacy – the state or condition of being superior or dominant over others |
| Surrender – to give up or yield to someone or something, often against one’s will |
| Smothering – suffocating or suppressing, often in terms of emotional or physical intensity |
| Sterilization – the process of making something free from bacteria or other living organisms |
| Suppress – to prevent or restrain something from being expressed or revealed |
| Squalor – a state of filth and degradation, often associated with poverty |
| Scathing – harshly critical or damaging |
| Sibilant – a hissing or whistling sound, often associated with disapproval or criticism |
| Soulless – lacking in emotion, feeling, or empathy |
| Squander – to waste or spend foolishly, often resulting in loss or ruin |
| Suppression – the act of forcibly stopping or preventing something from being expressed or revealed |
| Spurn – to reject or disdain someone or something with contempt |
| Slander – a false and damaging statement about someone, often intended to harm their reputation |
| Slight – to insult or disregard someone or something as unimportant or insignificant |
| Spite – a feeling of resentment or ill will, often resulting in harm or injury towards others |
| Sinful – characterized by or guilty of immoral or wicked behavior |
| Sensationalism – the use of exaggeration or sensational language to create interest or excitement, often at the expense of accuracy or truth |
| Sophistry – the use of false or deceptive arguments, often to justify or rationalize one’s beliefs or actions |
| Seclusion – the state of being isolated or removed from society or contact with others |
| Stalemate – a situation in which neither side can make progress or achieve victory |
| Scornful – expressing contempt or disdain towards someone or something |
| Sterile – lacking in interest or vitality; unproductive or uncreative |
| Somnolent – sleepy or drowsy, often in a way that inhibits alertness or productivity |
| Stereotype – a widely held but oversimplified and inaccurate image or idea of a particular group of people |
| Scapegoating – the act of unfairly blaming someone or something for the mistakes or faults of others |
| Self-doubt – a lack of confidence or belief in oneself, often leading to indecision or inaction |
| Self-destructive – causing harm or damage to oneself, often as a result of one’s own actions or behavior |
| Shallow – lacking depth or substance; superficial or trivial |
| Short-sighted – lacking foresight or vision; failing to consider long-term consequences |
| Sporadic – occurring irregularly or unpredictably, often resulting in inconsistency or uncertainty |
| Squabble – a minor or petty argument or dispute, often resulting in tension or conflict |
| Stigma – a mark symbol, or characteristic that is seen as a negative or shameful |
| Sabotage – to deliberately destroy or hinder something, often for personal gain or revenge |
| Sadistic – deriving pleasure from inflicting pain or suffering on others |
| Sagging – sinking or drooping in a way that suggests weakness or lack of support |
| Sanction – a penalty or punishment imposed for disobedience or violation of rules |
| Satirical – using irony or ridicule to expose or criticize human vices or follies |
| Scandalous – causing shock, outrage, or disgust due to immoral or improper behavior |
| Scorn – a feeling of contempt or disdain towards someone or something |
| Scourge – a cause of great suffering or punishment, often in the form of a plague or epidemic |
| Scrutiny – close examination or inspection, often resulting in criticism or suspicion |
| Secrecy – the state of being hidden or kept secret, often causing distrust or suspicion |
| Sedition – inciting rebellion or opposition against a government or authority |
| Seething – boiling with anger or intense emotion, often resulting in violent outbursts or behavior |
| Selfishness – a focus on one’s own needs and desires at the expense of others |
| Sensational – causing intense interest or excitement, often in a way that is excessive or exaggerated |
| Shabby – worn out, dilapidated, or lacking in quality or standards |
| Shattered – broken or destroyed, often in a way that causes great emotional or physical pain |
| Sheer – complete and utter, often in a way that suggests an overwhelming or impossible task or situation |
| Shocking – causing great surprise, horror, or disgust due to an unexpected or disturbing event or action |
| Shortfall – a deficiency or lack of something, often resulting in failure or disappointment |
| Shriek – a loud, high-pitched scream or cry, often expressing fear or pain |
| Shunned – rejected or ostracized by others, often due to differences in beliefs or behavior |
| Sickly – weak or unhealthy, often due to a lack of proper nutrition or care |
| Sigh – a deep, audible exhalation often expressing disappointment, frustration, or sadness |
| Silly – lacking in seriousness or importance, often resulting in foolish or trivial behavior |
| Sinister – evil or threatening in nature, often suggesting danger or harm |
| Skeptical – doubting or questioning the validity or truthfulness of something |
| Sluggish – slow or lacking energy or motivation, often resulting in inefficiency or delay |
| Smug – self-satisfied or complacent, often in a way that is annoying or irritating to others |
| Snarl – a deep, angry growl or noise, often expressing aggression or hostility |
| Sorrowful – full of sorrow or sadness, often resulting in tears or mourning |
| Spiteful – motivated by a desire to harm or hurt someone, often as a result of jealousy or resentment |
| Stagnant – not moving or changing, often resulting in a lack of progress or development |
| Stale – no longer fresh or interesting, often resulting in boredom or disinterest |
| Standoffish – unfriendly or distant in manner, often resulting in a lack of warmth or connection with others |
| Stark – severe or harsh in appearance or nature, often resulting in a feeling of bleakness or despair |
| Static – lacking movement or progress, often resulting in a lack of excitement or stimulation |
| Steep – difficult or challenging, often in terms of cost, effort, or |
| Stifling – suffocating or oppressive, often in a way that restricts freedom or creativity |
| Stressed – feeling overwhelmed or anxious, often due to excessive demands or pressure |
| Strife – conflict or struggle, often resulting in discord or tension |
| Struggle – to experience difficulty or hardship, often resulting in frustration or exhaustion |
| Stubborn – refusing to change one’s opinion or behavior, often resulting in conflict or impasse |
| Stupid – lacking intelligence or common sense, often resulting in foolish or unwise decisions |
| Submissive – obedient or compliant to an excessive or inappropriate degree, often resulting in exploitation or abuse |
| Sullen – sulky or bad-tempered, often resulting in a lack of enthusiasm or cooperation |
| Superficial – shallow or lacking depth, often in terms of thought or emotion |
| Suppressed – restrained or held back, often resulting in a lack of expression or authenticity |
| Suspicious – distrustful or wary of others, often resulting in paranoia or isolation |
| Sycophantic – excessively flattering or fawning, often in an insincere or manipulative manner |
| Sympathy – feeling sorry or pity for someone, often in a way that results in a lack of action or change. |
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of negative adjectives/words that start with the letter S and a lot more. We have listed some of the most commonly used in the English language above to you can use them in your negative vocabulary. We hope you have found the right powerful word from the list above. Until next time thanks you for reading.
