-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
despondent
adjective
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.
despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.
desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.
hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.
Examples of despondent in a Sentence
Word History
Latin despondent-, despondens, present participle of despondēre
circa 1699, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near despondent
Cite this Entry
“Despondent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despondent. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
despondent
adjectiveMore from Merriam-Webster on despondent
Nglish: Translation of despondent for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of despondent for Arabic Speakers
Share