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despondency
noun
de·spon·den·cy
di-ˈspän-dən-sē
: the state of being despondent or extremely low in spirits : dejection, hopelessness
sank into despondency while he was unemployed
Synonyms
- blue devils
- blues
- dejection
- depression
- desolation
- despond
- despondence
- disconsolateness
- dispiritedness
- doldrums
- dolefulness
- downheartedness
- dreariness
- dumps
- forlornness
- gloom
- gloominess
- glumness
- heartsickness
- joylessness
- melancholy
- miserableness
- mopes
- mournfulness
- oppression
- sadness
- sorrowfulness
- unhappiness
Examples of despondency in a Sentence
in despondency because he couldn't seem to settle into a lasting relationship
in their despondency they seemingly forgot that losing teams can become winning teams in a single season
Recent Examples on the Web
He’s got no home, no close family, no Wi-Fi for when Callie Rose comes by his new-to-him trailer with hopes of doing her homework on her iPad. O’Connor wears Dusty’s despondency like a heavy blanket, shoulders slumped and eyes cast toward the dirt beneath his feet.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Jan. 2025
One day, her despondency was interrupted by a meeting with the chiefs of the Iroquois’ Six Nation Confederacy to honor her efforts to bring back the bald eagle.
—
Grrlscientist, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
But with over 115,000 views, her message has struck a nerve among young professionals grappling with a growing sense of corporate despondency.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
And speaking of tariffs, President Trump’s incoming administration has spread alarm and despondency with its scattergun references to possible tariff barriers.
—
Neil Winton, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
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Word History
Etymology
see despond entry 1
First Known Use
1653, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near despondency
Cite this Entry
“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despondency. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
despondency
noun
de·spond·en·cy
di-ˈspän-dən-sē
: the state of being despondent : dejection, discouragement
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