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Synonyms

downhearted

American  
[doun-hahr-tid] / ˈdaʊnˈhɑr tɪd /

downhearted British  
/ ˌdaʊnˈhɑːtɪd /

adjective

  1. discouraged; dejected

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of downhearted

First recorded in 1645–55; down 1 + hearted

Explanation

Are you feeling sad and discouraged? Then you're downhearted. You need a hug from a good friend. Bad news, a tough day, your favorite team losing the championship — all of these can leave you feeling a bit downhearted. You can also use words like crestfallen, dejected, or blue to describe this sad emotion. The adjective downhearted includes the word ending -hearted, meaning "at heart," or "in one's deepest feelings."

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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.

See Examples For:

For anyone who’s ever felt adrift or behind in life, this keenly observed and inventively structured Argentine tragicomedy mines dry humor from the absurdity of social norms and its protagonist’s downhearted demeanor.

From Los Angeles Times May 29, 2024

"Don't get disillusioned and downhearted, don't feel overpowered and defeated. Do what you can," he said in 2020.

From BBC Dec. 8, 2023

To set small, achievable goals and work towards them steadily, and not get too downhearted when you fall backwards.

From Salon Sep. 9, 2023

But the complaints about high ticket prices left people there “dispirited, downhearted and yes, disillusioned,” publisher Christopher Phillips wrote late last week in a post announcing the shutdown.

From Seattle Times Feb. 7, 2023

“Are we downhearted over getting licked by Rosemont in that hundred-grander?” he asked.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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