despondent

[ dih-spon-duhnt ]

adjective

1. feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement, or gloom:

   despondent about failing health.

   Synonyms: blue, melancholy, downhearted

   Antonyms: hopeful, happy

despondent

/ dɪˈspɒndənt /

adjective

1. downcast or disheartened; lacking hope or courage; dejected

Derived Forms

• deˈspondency, noun
• deˈspondently, adverb
• deˈspondence, noun

Other Words From

• de·spondent·ly adverb
• prede·spondent adjective
• quasi-de·spondent adjective
• quasi-de·spondent·ly adverb
• unde·spondent adjective
• unde·spondent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of despondent¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin dēspondent-, stem of dēspondēns “giving up,” present participle of dēspondēre “to give up, lose heart, promise”; despond

Synonym Study

See hopeless.

Example Sentences

While run-of-the-mill pessimists might become immobilized and despondent by focusing on negative outcomes, defensive pessimists take action to avoid them.

From Salon

With echoey chords topped by electric sitar, the track is plush, slow and deeply, inconsolably despondent.

From New York Times

But he is “down most of the time” according to his mother, and despondent about the future and his chances of release.

From BBC

“I have to follow Mary?” she said, despondent.

From Los Angeles Times

That day on the phone he was despondent and frustrated like I had never heard before.

From BBC

Related Words

• dejected
• discouraged
• disheartened
• forlorn
• glum
• morose
• sad