dɪˈspɑːndənt
formal
: very sad and without hope
I had never seen them looking so despondent.
a group of despondent fans
—often + over or aboutShe is despondent over losing her job.
He grew increasingly despondent about her illness.
Cite this Entry
“Despondent.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/despondent. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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