1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
in despondency because he couldn't seem to settle into a lasting relationship
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2
as in despair
the state of being discouraged
in their despondency they seemingly forgot that losing teams can become winning teams in a single season
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3
as in desperation
utter loss of hope
never once gave into despondency and self-pity during her long recovery from her injuries in the car crash
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Recent Examples of despondency
This need not be a recipe for despondency.
—
Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Depression can take many forms: Some people experience it as emotional despondency, while others struggle with obsessive thoughts or a loss of pleasure.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 June 2025
Feelings of liberation and despondency clashed in Nguyen-Amigo’s chest like a head-on collision.
—Jonathan Horwitz, Oc Register, 20 June 2025
One of the most crowded events was that of Politico and CBS News, even as some of the network’s journalists are in a state of anxiety and even despondency over the potential for parent Paramount Global would settle Trump’s lawsuit over 60 Minutes‘ edits of a Kamala Harris interview.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondency
Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Depression can take many forms: Some people experience it as emotional despondency, while others struggle with obsessive thoughts or a loss of pleasure.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 June 2025
Feelings of liberation and despondency clashed in Nguyen-Amigo’s chest like a head-on collision.
—Jonathan Horwitz, Oc Register, 20 June 2025
One of the most crowded events was that of Politico and CBS News, even as some of the network’s journalists are in a state of anxiety and even despondency over the potential for parent Paramount Global would settle Trump’s lawsuit over 60 Minutes‘ edits of a Kamala Harris interview.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondency
Noun
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But the sadness at seeing Nuno depart does not equate to an anti-Postecoglou sentiment.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Any book that centers love, friendship, dependence, entwinement, with humor, grace, sadness, pathos, that has such immense warmth and care at the core, is the best kind of book to me.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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From the depths of despair, a reason to persist emerged and wheat flour surfaced.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
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Come for the downward spiral of hellish despair, stay for macabre goat Black Phillip and the ominous climax.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Facing fourth-and-4 at its 49-yard line, Grunkemeyer faced an all-out blitz and his desperation pass fell incomplete.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Seminoles backup Kevin Sparry, a true freshman, completed a desperation 53-yard pass to Micahi Danzy to the Stanford 9 with two seconds left, and then the Cardinal were called for pass interference in the end zone on the next play, setting FSU up at the 2 for an untimed down.—
Harold Gutmann,
Mercury News,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The connection appeared to be partly explained by higher levels of a gut bacterium called Eggerthella, a bacterium previously linked to inflammation and found in greater abundance among people with depression.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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Often, doctors don't connect symptoms like depression or suicidal thoughts to the drug.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While taking part in a video interview with GQ published in March alongside his Mickey 17 director Bong Joon Ho, Pattinson expressed some level of dismay for having to dance for the cameras while acting.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
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Ethan Hawke stars as Lorenz Hart of legendary songsmiths Rodgers & Hart as the prolific partnership disintegrates to his great dismay.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The film contrasts the picturesque Alpine scenery of Tyrol with the hopelessness and isolation of the people who live in this landscape involuntarily – rejected asylum seekers placed on top of the Bürglkopf mountain.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
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Strangers became friends and friends became family in a crowd that has felt anger, despair and hopelessness before finally feeling some happiness.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The manager who is so often the picture of calm had reddened eyes, a hint of melancholy in his voice.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
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The pop icon’s 12th album, released at midnight on Friday, is being hailed for the singer’s return to upbeat pop following last year’s melancholy The Tortured Poets Department, with Swift reuniting with Swedish hitmaker producers Max Martin and Shellback.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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This grim reality evokes a sense of sorrow and powerlessness among women in Paina Bujurg.—
Aishwarya S. Iyer,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
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Critics have hailed his performance’s blend of warmth, humor and sorrow.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondency. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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