dispirit

verb

dis·​pir·​it (ˌ)di-ˈspir-ət 

-ˈspi-rət

dispirited; dispiriting; dispirits

transitive verb

: to deprive of morale or enthusiasm

dispirited

(ˌ)di-ˈspir-ə-təd 

-ˈspi-rət

adjective

dispiritedly adverb

dispiritedness noun

Synonyms of dispirit

• discourage
• frustrate

Examples of dispirit in a Sentence

dispirited by the overwhelming amount of information needed to write the report

Recent Examples on the Web

And yet for God’s sake, just look at the man—at his dispiriting attempts at humor, his weirdly off-putting outfits, his incessant posting of banalities and faux profundities and extreme-right disinformation on social media. — Mark O’Connell, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026

Tess, meanwhile, suggests a more vulnerable reality behind that brittle exterior—a faith that talent and perseverance can pay off, a desire for agency amid dispiriting circumstances. — Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

After a long international flight, the lines at passport control and immigration can be dispiriting. — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026

And, as the season wound to a dispiriting close, there was literal infighting in the dressing room between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

dis- + spirit

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dispirit

• spirit

Kids Definition

dispirit

verb

dis·​pir·​it (ˈ)dis-ˈpir-ət 

: to deprive of cheerful spirit : dishearten

dispiritedly adverb

dispiritedness noun