1
as in desperate
feeling or showing no hope
after four days and still no word that the missing plane had been located, the relatives were despondent
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness
feeling despondent over the death of another close friend
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despondent
Many described conditions as reminiscent of the McCarthy era, and were despondent to see how quickly their office’s leaders acquiesced.
—
Erica L. Green, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
Verse was despondent after the game and his self-talk was brutal.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
But here’s why Biden shouldn’t be despondent: No one can say any of those three immediate predecessors saw their reputations unchanged after decamping from Washington.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 13 Jan. 2025
Remigio’s youngest son thinks the victim, already despondent over the breakup of a two-year romantic relationship, committed suicide as a result of the home invasion.
—Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for despondent
Erica L. Green, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
Verse was despondent after the game and his self-talk was brutal.
—Jourdan Rodrigue, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
But here’s why Biden shouldn’t be despondent: No one can say any of those three immediate predecessors saw their reputations unchanged after decamping from Washington.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 13 Jan. 2025
Remigio’s youngest son thinks the victim, already despondent over the breakup of a two-year romantic relationship, committed suicide as a result of the home invasion.
—Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 25 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for despondent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondent
Adjective
-
The New England Patriots are in desperate need of playmakers after focusing mainly on defensive help in free agency.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The Wild will take Friday off and host the desperate St. Louis Blues, who still have playoff hopes, Saturday night.—
Michael Russo,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Wood became depressed and died by suicide less than a year after the incident.—
Newsweek,
Newsweek,
10 Mar. 2025
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An exception is oil and gas executives, some of whom are buying while their shares are depressed.—
John Dorfman,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The dance begin and the people are hopeless, bumping into one another but totally enjoying the experience.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
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While a hopeless romantic, for example, may see geographical distance as a simple logistical hurdle, a pragmatist may deem it and its consequences more problematic.—
Christina Pérez,
Vogue,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Rather than panic, consider that software developers are pretty unhappy with the status quo.—
Steve Rodda,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
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Recent polling also suggests that Americans are relatively unhappy with DOGE’s efforts.—
Filip Timotija,
The Hill,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Family members and two of his lawyers say he was diagnosed with severe PTSD, a sad and rapid fall that ended in another explosion of violence.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
16 Mar. 2025
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Their eggs failed to hatch in 2023 and 2024, leaving many internet followers sad.—
Amanda Kooser,
Forbes,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, Long Live Curt, a tribute to a close friend who died, could fit on a DJ set with the heartbroken singalongs of fellow Floridians like St. Petersburg’s Rod Wave and Jacksonville’s Lil Poppa.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
14 Mar. 2025
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But in a confessional, Stacey weeps while sympathizing with her heartbroken friend.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Reduced to occasionally doing commercials for used cars, and spending most of his days drinking, despairing, and sporadically playing Russian roulette in a retirement home for actors, the curmudgeonly Montana has a death wish that only sheer luck has kept him from fulfilling.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2025
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Western allies of the United States gathered in Munich this past week, anxious, adrift and despairing in the face of President Trump’s brute display of muscle-flexing on the global stage.—
Mark Landler,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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And the fact that some people need to live miserable lives in order for other people to live these absolutely luxurious lives.—
Amiel Stanek,
Bon Appétit,
17 Mar. 2025
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Down the road, Reus is taking a lot of the heat for the LA Galaxy’s miserable start to the season, having failed so far to make up for the injury absence of Riqui Puig in central midfield.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despondent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondent. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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