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
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2
as in depressed
feeling unhappiness
feeling despondent over the death of another close friend
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despondent
Practice Gratitude For Your Achievements Many aid workers feel increasingly despondent over the state of the world and the role of our beloved country.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
The fireworks inside the hearing room rallied both despondent Democrats eager for a more confrontational opposition to the Trump administration and MAGA enthusiasts who see Rubio as a powerful asset to the White House.
—David Catanese, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
Malec does not have to worry about Bauer getting too excited when everything is going right or Bauer becoming despondent in tough times.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 29 May 2025
Come day’s end, less than 48 hours removed from that Friday 64, following a week of extremes, Homa stood despondent, sounding like a man ready to walk away from it all.
—Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondent
Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025
The fireworks inside the hearing room rallied both despondent Democrats eager for a more confrontational opposition to the Trump administration and MAGA enthusiasts who see Rubio as a powerful asset to the White House.
—David Catanese, Miami Herald, 21 May 2025
Malec does not have to worry about Bauer getting too excited when everything is going right or Bauer becoming despondent in tough times.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 29 May 2025
Come day’s end, less than 48 hours removed from that Friday 64, following a week of extremes, Homa stood despondent, sounding like a man ready to walk away from it all.
—Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondent
Adjective
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But this went from an idea that was an automatic community win to an example of desperate nickel and diming.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
-
Young campers, counselors and staff are roused from sleep and begin a desperate rush to higher ground, according to social media accounts.—
HANNAH FINGERHUT,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Screenshot from a July 1 TikTok video of a depressed golden retriever waiting for her dog dad to return 1 1/2 years after a breakup.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
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The law expands opportunity zones and extends tax benefits for investing in inner cities and economically depressed rural areas.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
In a time when the suffering and seemingly hopeless prospects of America’s poor are known to all who have eyes to see, the only fig leaf available to hide the obscenity of this bill is the old partisan charge of waste, fraud and abuse.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
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Valentine, Texas, stamps 10,000+ love letters each year For more than three decades, the small-town Valentine Post Office — also known as the Love Station — has processed thousands of love letters from hopeless romantics around the world.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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This gives the creditor an additional target to pursue and make very unhappy which can indirectly put pressure on the debtor to pay the judgment.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Circulation increased and the publication won two Pulitzer Prizes, but the owner, conservative Harry Guggenheim, was unhappy with the paper’s shift to the left, and he and Moyers were divided over the Vietnam War and the 1968 presidential election.—
Carmel Dagan,
Variety,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Too much alcohol and your dreamy dessert turns into a sad, semi-frozen slush.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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All three movies are packed with dinosaurs—dinosaurs running, dinosaurs being sad and winsome, dinosaurs showing ruthless disregard for human life.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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Raymond Cheadle, Honesty’s great-uncle, told WUSA the family, including the girl’s dad, is heartbroken.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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Pepe has the power to make two heartbroken Islanders immediately forget about their old connections.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
People are despairing over the Supreme Court and its deference to the president.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
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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
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As a result, couples may find themselves in a miserable situation.—
Mark Travers,
CNBC,
29 June 2025
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According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 19% of employees are miserable at work, and 60% feel emotionally detached.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despondent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondent. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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