despondency

American  

[dih-spon-duhn-see] / dɪˈspɒn dən si /

Also despondence

noun

1. state of being despondent; depression of spirits from loss of courage or hope; dejection.

   Synonyms:

   gloom , melancholy

   Antonyms:

   joy

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Related Words

See despair.

Other Word Forms

• predespondency noun

Etymology

Origin of despondency

First recorded in 1645–55; despond + -ency

Example Sentences

As much as Italian joy will linger, so too will Scotland despondency.

From BBC

She said that, over the last week, she had been feeling shock, fear, sadness and despondency — not just over the initial attack but also over protests that have targeted Israel in recent days.

From Los Angeles Times

“Only together will we shake off the mildew of bureaucracy, risk aversion and despondency that has settled on our country over years and decades,” he said.

From Seattle Times

"There's a bit of despondency creeping in," says a minister.

From BBC

No stranger to zingers from his years of playing Jack McFarland on “Will & Grace,” Hayes submerges himself in the despair and despondency that were the fuel for Levant’s storied wit.

From Los Angeles Times