downhearted

American  

[daun-hahr-tid] / ˈdaʊnˈhɑr tɪd /

adjective

1. dejected; depressed; discouraged.

   Synonyms:

   sorrowful, sad, dispirited, despondent, downcast

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downhearted British  

/ ˌdaʊnˈhɑːtɪd /

adjective

1. discouraged; dejected

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Other Word Forms

• downheartedness
  noun
• downheartedly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of downhearted

First recorded in 1645–55; down ¹ + hearted

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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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

downhearted

"I knew how downhearted my wife would be if she'd lost a ring that had sentimental value to her, so that was in the back of my mind."

From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2024

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

Another follows the duo as they’re diagnosed with depression — because they believe girls prefer downhearted guys.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2022

Because Jeffrey is such a naturally happy kid, he wasn’t generally downhearted in those early days, despite the illness.

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick

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