despondency

noun

de·spon·den·cy | \ di-ˈspän-dən-sē

How to pronounce despondency (audio)

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Definition of despondency

: the state of being despondent or extremely low in spirits : dejection, hopelessness sank into despondency while he was unemployed

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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 But Starr here is it, and his expression is a combination of utter despondency and the realization that Mr. Fredricks might be genuine. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, "Freaks and Geeks Nudges Bill Haverchuck Out of His Comfort Zone," 25 Feb. 2021 Rotating between determination and despondency, Ivy sees hope for an ideal life in Gideon and destruction of that hope in Roux. — Katherine A. Powers Washington Post, Star Tribune, "Audiobooks: Tales of deception, suspense – and some history," 19 Feb. 2021 The musical captured the resolute energy and optimistic sense of possibility that reverberated across the Arab world during the 18 days of the Egyptian uprising, as well as the sorrow and despondency of the revolution’s failures. — Christopher Wallenberg, BostonGlobe.com, "Boylston’s Lazour brothers give their songs from ‘Cairo’ a second life," 25 Jan. 2021 But this burst of attentiveness eventually gives way to sluggishness and despondency. — Alejandro Chacoff, The New Yorker, "The Italian Novelist Who Envisioned a World Without Humanity," 28 Dec. 2020 Her answers always reeled them back into despondency. — Los Angeles Times, "Surrounded by death, nursing home workers battle management and fear to protect patients," 27 Dec. 2020 The Misses Arkell, at the prospect, passed through alternating crises of despondency and exaltation; but Lucy remained steadfastly hopeful. — Edith Wharton, The Atlantic, "A Granted Prayer," 9 Nov. 2020 No Orders An air of despondency hung over the gathering of top arms manufacturers last week in Lucknow, a nineteenth century battleground city in northern India. — Anurag Kotoky, Bloomberg.com, "Funding Crunch Leaves Modi’s Military Purchases a Pipe Dream," 7 May 2020 The conflicting signals of curiosity, arousal, reserve and despondency as Michael considers the clear invitation to participate play out with poignancy across Hickey's face. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Sublet': Film Review | Tribeca 2020," 17 Apr. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'despondency.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

5 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despondency. Accessed 10 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for despondency

despondency

noun

de·spon·den·cy | \ di-ˈspän-dən-sē

\

Kids Definition of despondency

: dejection, sadness

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