1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
he sank into a crushing despond after his wife left him
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in despair
utter loss of hope
loss of his job threw him into a deep despond
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to despair
to lose all hope or confidence
we must not despond even though we live in trying times
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despond
Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2024
The slough of Mardenborough's despond comes towards the end of the film when a crash at the Nürburgring results in the death of a spectator.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 11 Aug. 2023
Their partnership—in fighting Communism and reviving the U.S. economy after the despond of the 1970s—changed American debate.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2020
On its best nights, the N.B.A. offers a free-jazz apex, as good teams (none of which are found within hundreds of miles of that basketball despond in New York City) offer jukes and passes and shooting.
—Michael Powell, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2016
Noun
Lonely and addicted to her social media feeds, Selena plunged into a deep despond and filmed her death-by-overdose on Snap.
—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2024
The slough of Mardenborough's despond comes towards the end of the film when a crash at the Nürburgring results in the death of a spectator.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 11 Aug. 2023
Their partnership—in fighting Communism and reviving the U.S. economy after the despond of the 1970s—changed American debate.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2020
On its best nights, the N.B.A. offers a free-jazz apex, as good teams (none of which are found within hundreds of miles of that basketball despond in New York City) offer jukes and passes and shooting.
—Michael Powell, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despond
Noun
-
These movies commit to the dusty interior decoration and inherent sadness of their ghost stories, but have little feel for the profound interfamily dynamics therein.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
-
So many of Lee’s memories of her mother are tinged with sadness and grief.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As France awaits its next prime minister, Bacharan says many people are in despair over the uncertainty this has brought on the country.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
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Mauricio says his wife didn’t give in to that despair and felt reassured by having a work permit.—
Gustavo Valdés,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In addition, people may experience anxiety or depression related to summer's end and the return to school and work routines, Prism Medical Products says.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The Browns are a virus for seasonal depression.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Daniels also threw a desperation pick while simply trying to get rid of the ball, but the game’s outcome was decided by then.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
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Tatum does stretch his acting abilities in scenes where Jeffrey’s con-man charisma is underlaid with desperation and deception, but there’s nothing in Cianfrance and Kirt Gunn’s screenplay to seriously challenge Tatum’s persona as a leading man.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Lacy’s new music maintains his sly sense of humor, but with a barefaced melancholy that pushes it to new emotional depths.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
14 Aug. 2025
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More often than not, the film’s nostalgia is sweet and enjoyable because it is paired with the melancholy that comes from all the acknowledgments of the actors from the original who died over the last 29 years.—
Jesse David Fox,
Vulture,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel Hamnet imagined the relationship between the Bard and his spouse as an intimate tale of lust, compromise, joy, resentment, support, and sorrow.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
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Jolie nonetheless manages to bring some palpable life to the role, complicating her otherworldly magnetism with a dawning dread and sorrow.—
Richard Lawson,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is a club that has endured more than its fair share of doom and gloom in recent times.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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On the floor of Orient Craft, which exports about 82% of its products to the US, gloom is settling in.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despond.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despond. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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