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definitions

despondency

or de·spond·ence

[dih-spon-duhn-see or dih-spon-duhns]
See more synonyms for despondency on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. state of being despondent; depression of spirits from loss of courage or hope; dejection.

Origin of despondency

First recorded in 1645–55; despond + -ency
Related formspre·de·spond·en·cy, noun

Synonyms for despondency

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com
melancholy, gloom.

Synonym study

See despair.

Antonyms for despondency

joy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for despondency

grief, gloom, sadness, despair, depression

Examples from the Web for despondency

Contemporary Examples of despondency

  • He sings angrily and directly to Anna about his feelings, his despondency, his pain—“Why do I have to pay attorney fees?!”

    The Daily Beast logo
    Kanye's Heartbreak

    Touré

    December 2, 2008

Historical Examples of despondency

  • Lucretia's defeat in the Handicap had increased his despondency.

    Thoroughbreds

    W. A. Fraser

  • The Union army was still busy and he felt a few moments of despondency.

    The Rock of Chickamauga

    Joseph A. Altsheler

  • He thinks it is too late to change for any useful purpose, and he sinks into despondency.

    Bunyan

    James Anthony Froude

  • There had been times in the last few days when he had suffered from despondency.

    Cleo The Magnificent

    Louis Zangwill

  • Maurice awoke to a sensation of despondency and physical discomfort.

    The Downfall

    Emile Zola

Word Origin and History for despondency
n.

1650s; see despondence + -cy.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper