1
as in desperate
feeling or showing no hope
after four days and still no word that the missing plane had been located, the relatives were despondent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness
feeling despondent over the death of another close friend
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 despondent
At what was supposed to be his final asylum hearing on March 20, Rodríguez Parra’s lawyer sounded despondent.
—
Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 18 July 2025
The prosecutors remained seated, subdued and by all appearances despondent.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 2 July 2025
In May 2023, Kesha released Gag Order, a dark, despondent exploration of her trauma, with minimalist production from Rick Rubin and the image of the pop star with a blast bag over her head as its album artwork.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 3 July 2025
Authorities say on June 17, Faye fired his handgun inside the Morgan Hill home of an ex-girlfriend, while reportedly despondent about his misdemeanor child abuse arrest two days earlier in Monterey.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondent
Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 18 July 2025
The prosecutors remained seated, subdued and by all appearances despondent.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 2 July 2025
In May 2023, Kesha released Gag Order, a dark, despondent exploration of her trauma, with minimalist production from Rick Rubin and the image of the pop star with a blast bag over her head as its album artwork.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 3 July 2025
Authorities say on June 17, Faye fired his handgun inside the Morgan Hill home of an ex-girlfriend, while reportedly despondent about his misdemeanor child abuse arrest two days earlier in Monterey.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondent
Adjective
-
Some of the images from Katrina have been indelible, too − of desperate people trapped for days on their roofs or in their attics to get above the floodwaters and of thousands taking chaotic refuge in the Superdome.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
But the real, rarer and less predictable conflicts are the internal struggles of people whose laudable intentions bump up against desperate situations.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
If management succeeds in achieving its ambitious growth targets while maintaining leverage control, the stock could experience a significant multiple expansion from its current depressed levels.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The protagonist here, though, is the depressed and alcoholic songwriter Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke, who else?), waiting to congratulate his former creative partner Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott) and grappling with his own jealousy and insecurities.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Time,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Needless to say, that sounds like a good fit for the rather hopeless Battlestar Galactica universe.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
You? Consider these numbers: 44% report feeling persistently hopeless.—
Todd Nordstrom,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
And a surprising amount of grace from staff who, although unhappy with the changes, felt respected.—
Taazima Kala,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The Heat, at the time, wanted to dump Lowry — who was unhappy about his diminished role — and believed Rozier would give Miami an offensive infusion.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The song’s a lonely and sad tale, with the narrator pondering his state in the back of the long, white Cadillac.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Colman and Cumberbatch set aside the sad aspects of divorce and instead engage in an all-out war, perfectly and comically encapsulating their hatred for each other.—
Rebecca Aizin,
People.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Continue reading … 'PRAYERS TO EVERYBODY' – Minnesota Timberwolves star Julius Randle said news of the horrific shooting that left at least two people dead and 17 others injured at a church in his team's home city left him heartbroken.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Adams leads the cast as Marianne, a heartbroken, struggling young painter who escapes to the countryside with her best friends — Lila (Nell Williams, A24’s Huntington) and Betty (Jessamine-Bliss Bell, Bodies) — for what should be a healing retreat.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
People are despairing over the Supreme Court and its deference to the president.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
-
Alcaraz swung slice serves past a despairing Lehečka’s forehand, while the Czech’s deliveries leapt up off the grass, contorting Alcaraz into uncomfortable return positions.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
But new data reveals doctors and paramedics rank themselves as the most miserable workers.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
31 Aug. 2025
-
Lanthimos’ skepticism of humankind’s capacity to evolve is a welcome comfort, as always, in our politically miserable era.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despondent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondent. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share