Word selection in Nahj al-Balaghah is purposeful and based on the principles of eloquence and rhetoric. Each word in this noble book serves a specific semantic function, such that other seemingly synonymous terms cannot fully convey the same precise meaning to the audience. This study aims to examine the semantic field of "al-Ḥuzn" (sadness) in Nahj al-Balaghah to clarify the semantic nuances of the terms within this domain. Utilizing a descriptive-analytical method, this research extracts terms related to "sadness"—such as al-Asaf, al-Asā, al-Karb, al-Hamm, al-Ḥasrah, al-Taraḥ, al-Lahf, al-Jazaʿ, al-Sadam, and others—from Nahj al-Balaghah. By examining their usage in the text, it analyzes their meanings in relation to the central term, "al-Ḥuzn."Furthermore, through a context-based analysis, the study identifies the specific semantic components and differences between these terms, drawing upon various lexicographical sources and commentaries of Nahj al-Balaghah.The results indicate that the central term, "al-Ḥuzn," is an "unmarked" word, whereas many other terms in this field are considered "marked" in relation to it. Moreover, the examination of this semantic field reveals that word selection is performed with careful attention to the precise meaning of the terms and their situational context. The semantic components added by these "marked" terms to the concept of "sadness" include: intensity, frequency, continuity, breadth, encompassing nature, regret, remorse, despair, loss, urgency, anger, resentment, impatience, silence, etc. Finally, the analysis of the linguistic context (siyāq) demonstrates that the collocation of these terms with other components of the discourse enhances the semantic load of each individual word.