despondent
Americanadjective
adjective
Related Words
See hopeless.
Other Word Forms
- despondence noun
- despondency noun
- despondently adverb
- predespondent adjective
- quasi-despondent adjective
- quasi-despondently adverb
- undespondent adjective
- undespondently adverb
Etymology
Origin of despondent
First recorded in 1690–1700; from Latin dēspondent-, stem of dēspondēns “giving up,” present participle of dēspondēre “to give up, lose heart, promise”; despond
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.
Aviles told the San Antonio Express-News, which published the text messages first, that the relationship and the professional ostracization his wife faced after it was discovered led her to become despondent before her death.
From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026
Not long ago, investors were despondent as stocks related to artificial intelligence pulled back on bubble fears and worries about potential overcapacity.
From Barron's • Jan. 7, 2026
“I feel despondent about the City Council’s lack of interest in keeping places like this going and highlighting them as spots to be looked after and cared for.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 22, 2025
Hope is a commodity in short supply for the town’s despondent and fearful residents.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2025
A despondent young woman in a black raincoat with much black hair on her face passed with her eyes lowered.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
