despondent

adjective

de·​spon·​dent di-ˈspän-dənt How to pronounce despondent (audio)
: feeling or showing extreme discouragement, dejection, or depression
despondent about his health
despondently adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for despondent

despondent, despairing, desperate, hopeless mean having lost all or nearly all hope.

despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.

one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle

hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

Examples of despondent in a Sentence

His colleagues did not care for his despondent company, which made him suffer more, which perpetuated their distance … Noah Charney, The Art Thief, 2007
The Simpsons' plots are a bit more sophisticated than their Saturday morning counterparts and are occasionally tinged with pathos—as when Homer loses his job at the nuclear-power plant and becomes despondent and even suicidal. Jerry Lazar, TV Guide, 13 Jan. 1990
Writers who spend much time in universities are likely to grow despondent over the future of literature, for there it is treated as a finished thing. Louis Simpson, New York Times Book Review, 21 Nov. 1982
I had never seen them looking so despondent. a group of despondent fans
Recent Examples on the Web Her infectious giggles could brighten even the most despondent demeanor. Cheryl Maguire, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2024 Iroh is despondent at Lu Ten’s funeral, as a procession of guests stop by to express their sympathies for the death of his only child. Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 But in what felt like classic Lions fashion, the team could not hold on to a 24-7 halftime lead over the San Francisco 49ers, leaving fans despondent while appreciative. Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 30 Jan. 2024 Assigned to Matthew Crawley as his personal valet, Molesley is left nearly despondent when Matthew eschews tradition and insists on dressing himself. EW.com, 27 Jan. 2024 But so much of my first year covering the NFL has bordered on the unbelievable — particularly with my up-close-and-personal look at the despondent Carolina Panthers’ 2023 season. Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 8 Feb. 2024 While most of the Fairfax players were celebrating, several went over to a despondent Chatsworth player to offer support. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2023 But as those layoffs have dragged into 2024 despite stabilizing interest rates and a booming job market in other industries, the tech workforce is feeling despondent and confused. Caroline O'Donovan, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2024 After a despondent first year in medical school, a young Fawn Veerasunthorn pivoted to a career in animation. Alexa Mikhail, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'despondent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin despondent-, despondens, present participle of despondēre

First Known Use

circa 1699, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of despondent was circa 1699

Dictionary Entries Near despondent

Cite this Entry

“Despondent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despondent. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

despondent

adjective
de·​spond·​ent
di-ˈspän-dənt
: feeling quite discouraged or depressed : being in very low spirits
despondently adverb

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