downhearted

adjective

ˈdau̇n-ˈhär-təd How to pronounce downhearted (audio)
Definition of downheartednext
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness downhearted because his best friend was taking a job out of state

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of downhearted In the grand scheme of things, neither should be too downhearted. — Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026 McRae has also made progress carving out an artistic identity—trading downhearted power ballads for sleek, club‑ready cuts that blend R&B, hip‑hop, and dance‑pop. — Rachel Brodsky, Time, 30 Sep. 2025 Created by Sirius Cybernetics Corporation with GPP (Genuine People Personalities), Marvin is programmed to be unerringly downhearted. — Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024 Near the end of this downhearted saga, Esmeralda gives a speech, explanatory despite its poetic language, about the mistreatment of her people in this country — her fury even more palpable in her delivery than in the words themselves. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 12 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for downhearted
  1. depressed
  2. unhappy
  3. sad
  4. heartbroken
  5. miserable
  6. melancholy
  7. sorry
  8. upset
Adjective
  • When Magic Lotus becomes secretly depressed after another death in the ring at his hands, Tongchai supports his exile into nature from the boxing world.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 29 July 2026
  • For those feeling exhausted, depressed or burned out, or as if one more issue or crisis will be tomorrow’s tipping point, now is the time to act.
    — Dr. Talia Varley, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of depressed
Adjective
  • So this became, like, a collective therapy session for everyone unhappy with the government.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Their heated exchange on the field lasted more than two minutes, with Jones unhappy that Szoboszlai had given the captain’s armband to Tsimikas rather than him when the Hungary midfielder was substituted 13 minutes from time.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • Said sad attraction is not exactly comparable to Buckingham Fountain.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Their deaths were a sad reminder of the danger that pneumococcal pneumonia poses to older adults.
    — Mark Marino, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • Local photographers are heartbroken after a young eagle was hit and killed by a train in Beaver County earlier this month.
    — Jessica Guay, CBS News, 30 July 2026
  • Glen’s family is deeply shocked and heartbroken by this tragic loss and respectfully requests privacy at this extremely difficult time.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 29 July 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Adjective
  • Maybe people don’t realize, but a lot of shows become miserable to work on.
    — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
  • Despite the miserable May that cast their season into the wilderness, the ability is still there.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 July 2026
Definition of miserable
Adjective
  • What reads at a casual distance as serene maternal tenderness shifts, on closer inspection, into something more ambivalent—a shade of melancholy that surfaces only when the eye lingers on Mary’s face.
    — Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Midland put their stamp on the idea by maintaining those mixed emotions of melancholy and excitement; the romance but also the rootlessness of a life spent on the road.
    — Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of melancholy
Adjective
  • So, sorry to Aaron, and hello to Viva Paper Towels, who is putting up $20,000 for the winner of this challenge.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The point of Kleiman’s post is for average folks to feel sorry for the seven-time Super Bowl champ.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of sorry
Adjective
  • The Braves opted against parting with their most valuable prospects at the trade deadline, a decision that’s upset part of the fanbase and many around the organization but will require time to judge.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • It’s considered the biggest upset in the history of the tournament.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of upset

Browse Nearby Words

downgrading
downhearted
downheartedly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Downhearted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/downhearted. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on downhearted

Nglish: Translation of downhearted for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of invidious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All