downhearted

American  

[doun-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

• downheartedly adverb
• downheartedness noun

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."

Example Sentences

Having been slammed in the White House, then feted in the UK, his mood, in public at least, was not downhearted.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2025

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

From Salon • Sep. 9, 2023

Tarr, 67, a maker of severe, downhearted films that draw outside the lines of traditional storytelling, rarely comes to town.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 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