136 Negative Words Starting With S (With Descriptions)

136 Negative Words Starting With S (With Descriptions)

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.

Phil Taylor Author Body Language Matters
Phil Taylor Author Body Language Matters

Founder Phil Taylor

Phil Taylor, the founder of BodyLanguageMatters.com, embarked on a journey to unravel the secrets of non-verbal communication and to delve deep into the intricacies of body language. His passion didn’t stop there; it expanded to encompass various realms of psychology. A professional hypnotherapist and a master of close-up magic, Phil possesses a vast reservoir of knowledge and understanding in the field of communication. His multifaceted experiences have honed his expertise, turning him into a formidable force in the exploration of human interaction.

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