Main Entry: de·spon·dent

Pronunciation: \-dənt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin despondent-, despondens, present participle of despondēre

Date: circa 1699

: feeling or showing extreme discouragement, dejection, or depression <despondent about his health>

— de·spon·dent·ly adverb

synonyms 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>.