dispiriting

British  

/ dɪˈspɪrɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. tending to lower the spirit or enthusiasm; depressing; discouraging

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dispiritingly
  adverb

Explanation

Things that discourage you or make you feel hopeless are dispiriting. It can be dispiriting when the candidate you've supported and campaigned for loses the election. Anything that makes you lose your sense of enthusiasm is dispiriting. Watching your favorite basketball team be defeated over and over again is dispiriting. If you're counting on friends to plan something fun for your birthday and they completely forget about it, that's dispiriting too. This adjective stems from the verb dispirit, and its parts, dis, "lack of," and spirit, "life or inspiration."

Example Sentences

The latest inflation report marks a dispiriting end to Jerome Powell’s eight-year tenure as Fed Chair.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

Then came the dispiriting loss to the Warriors and the 40-year-old Paul’s opportunity to get in the last meme, even though it wasn’t exactly original.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Thomas Frank faced fresh calls for his dismissal from angry Tottenham fans after a dispiriting 2-2 draw at Premier League strugglers Burnley on Saturday as Bournemouth ended Liverpool's long unbeaten run.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

A 3-2 margin might make that more possible, but a 4-1 scoreline would certainly bring McCullum and Key into sharper focus, especially after such a dispiriting Tuesday in Sydney.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

There was not a single item of conventional trail food—raisins or peanuts or small, portable quantities of packets or canned goods—which was a little dispiriting in a national park.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• crushing
• discouraging
• disheartening
• dismal