First Known Use: circa 1699
Dictionary
despondent
adjective de·spon·dent \di-ˈspän-dənt\
: very sad and without hope
Full Definition of DESPONDENT
: feeling or showing extreme discouragement, dejection, or depression <despondent about his health>
— de·spon·dent·ly adverb
See despondent defined for English-language learners
See despondent defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of DESPONDENT
- Writers who spend much time in universities are likely to grow despondent over the future of literature, for there it is treated as a finished thing. —Louis Simpson, New York Times Book Review, 21 Nov. l982
- His colleagues did not care for his despondent company, which made him suffer more, which perpetuated their distance … —Noah Charney, The Art Thief, 2007
- The Simpsons' plots are a bit more sophisticated than their Saturday morning counterparts and are occasionally tinged with pathos—as when Homer loses his job at the nuclear-power plant and becomes despondent and even suicidal. —Jerry Lazar, TV Guide, 13 Jan. 1990
- [+]more
Origin of DESPONDENT
Latin despondent-, despondens, present participle of despondēre
Related to DESPONDENT
- Synonyms
- despairing, desperate, forlorn, hopeless
- Antonyms
- hopeful, optimistic
Synonym Discussion of DESPONDENT
despondent, despairing, desperate, hopeless mean having lost all or nearly all hope. despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort <despondent about yet another rejection>. despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency <despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child>. desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration <one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle>. hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation <the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless>.
Rhymes with DESPONDENT
DESPONDENT Defined for Kids
despondent
adjective de·spon·dent \di-ˈspän-dənt\
Definition of DESPONDENT for Kids
: very sad <Left alone, she grew despondent.>
— de·spon·dent·ly adverb
Learn More About DESPONDENT
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: desponsoriesPrevious Word in the Dictionary: despondencyAll Words Near: despondent
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up despondent? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).