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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ryan seemed particularly despondent after the fight during her interview with ESPN's Mark Kriegel, who scored the fight in her favor. Brian Mazique, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024 Kenneth is despondent about his future until Corrina (Rebecca S’manga Frank), a waitress at Wally’s, tells him to apply for a job at one of the banks. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024 As a mother watching Palestinian children starved and obliterated, my instinct is to feel utterly despondent, to feel powerless to make change. Stefanie Fox, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024 Instead, Ravi sated his withdrawals by feeding his body more alcohol, giving way to a March whirlwind of blackouts, massive hangovers and despondent texts to friends. Max Blau, NPR, 22 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for despondent 

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 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

despondent

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

More from Merriam-Webster on despondent

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