despondency
Americannoun
Synonym Usage
See despair.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of despondency
Explanation
Despondency is a sad emotional state — much like depression. If you're in a state of despondency, you're feeling hopeless and super bummed out. Despondency is one of many emotional states that are not pleasant — it's a kind of extreme sadness. Stubbing your toe wouldn't trigger despondency, but the death of a family member or friend might. When people lose their jobs or experience failure, despondency can happen — they feel despondent. Despondency can include not only sadness, but feelings of hopelessness. It's a terrible way to feel, and it's not easy to get over it.
Vocabulary lists containing despondency
A Wrinkle in Time
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Bill Parcells' Hall of Fame Induction Speech
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The Gene
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Arsenal's joy in Italy contrasted with despondency in Norway for Premier League heavyweights Man City.
From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026
"To get constant rejections just left me in an even deeper pit of despair and despondency."
From BBC • Feb. 5, 2025
Juniper Hills resident Diane Swick, 60, transitioned from joy to despondency quickly in early August.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 5, 2024
Add that to a constant drumbeat of stories about widespread dissatisfaction and despondency, and it created a negative feedback loop.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 2024
That was Mary’s job as she saw it—to keep the despondency away from Tom because everyone knew he was going to be a great success some time.
From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
