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.
The 44-year-old is a relaxed individual - the epitome of someone who does not get carried away by success or overly despondent by failure.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
He was so despondent, his mother said, that she felt her only option was to allow them to be sent back to El Salvador, a country Edwin left when he was 5.
From Salon • Mar. 24, 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
In this case, it’s a subplot about despondent self-deporting animals who resolve to flee Oz because their home has become hostile to their kind: “We can’t stay here. It’s become rotten,” says a bear.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025
Lily seemed to give me a silent signal to appear despondent.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
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.
