despondent

[ dih-spon-duhnt ]
See synonyms for despondent on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, discouragement, or gloom: despondent about failing health.

Origin of despondent

1
First recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin dēspondent-, stem of dēspondēns “giving up,” present participle of dēspondēre “to give up, lose heart, promise”; see despond

synonym study For despondent

See hopeless.

Other words for despondent

Opposites for despondent

Other words from despondent

  • 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use despondent in a sentence

  • He thought his uncle looked ill when he said goodbye, and the old man spoke despondently of the failure his life had been.

  • "I'm havin' a time iv it with Terence," said Mr. Hennessy, despondently.

    Mr. Dooley in Peace and in War | Finley Peter Dunne
  • He despondently reflected that if Fogg and Burkett had agreed again, the combination against him still existed.

    Blow The Man Down | Holman Day

British Dictionary definitions for despondent

despondent

/ (dɪˈspɒndənt) /


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

Derived forms of despondent

  • despondence, noun
  • despondency, noun
  • despondently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012