Synonyms of despondency

despondency

noun

di-ˈspän-dən-sē 

1

as in sadness

a state or spell of low spirits

in despondency because he couldn't seem to settle into a lasting relationship

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sadness
• depression
• melancholy
• sorrowfulness
• sorrow
• gloom
• mournfulness
• anguish
• grief
• dejection
• unhappiness
• despair
• misery
• despondence
• oppression
• desperation
• gloominess
• agony
• dreariness
• blues
• glumness
• heartsickness
• despond
• joylessness
• dumps
• forlornness
• pain
• mourning
• miserableness
• mopes
• boredom
• doldrums
• desolation
• distress
• downheartedness
• blue devils
• melancholia
• regret
• self-pity
• hopelessness
• discouragement
• disconsolateness
• dispiritedness
• somberness
• dolefulness
• wretchedness
• ennui
• woe
• dolor
• disheartenment
• tedium
• moroseness
• moodiness
• drear
• morbidness
• woefulness
• rue
• self-despair
• dismalness
• morosity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elation
• joy
• euphoria
• exultation
• happiness
• ecstasy
• exuberance
• intoxication
• jubilation
• bliss
• rapture
• exhilaration
• joyousness
• gladness
• mirth
• joyfulness
• heaven
• felicity
• glee
• optimism
• gaiety
• merriment
• humor
• joviality
• jollity
• hopefulness
• cheerfulness
• lightheartedness
• blissfulness
• gayness
• satisfaction
• contentment
• cheeriness
• cheer
• mirthfulness
• content
• gleefulness
• elatedness
• contentedness
• rapturousness
• gladsomeness
• gratification
• sunniness
• delight

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• despair
• dismay
• discouragement
• defeatism
• depression
• demoralization
• gloom
• disheartenment
• melancholy
• dejection
• resignation
• pessimism
• blues
• dumps
• dispiritedness
• mopes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• encouragement
• optimism
• sanguinity

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• desperation
• despair
• sadness
• hopelessness
• sorrow
• depression
• despondence
• melancholy
• despond
• misery
• forlornness
• slough of despond
• agony
• resignation
• oppression
• gloom
• unhappiness
• sorrowfulness
• pain
• dejection
• distress
• gloominess
• mournfulness
• acceptance
• dreariness
• self-pity
• joylessness
• blues
• dumps
• pessimism
• cynicism
• dolor
• mopes
• desolation
• doldrums
• wretchedness
• downheartedness
• blue devils
• woe
• self-despair
• disconsolateness
• dispiritedness
• woefulness
• dolefulness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hopefulness
• hope
• cheerfulness
• optimism
• cheer
• mirth
• glee
• elation
• gaiety
• joy
• merriment
• sunniness
• euphoria
• joviality
• jollity
• happiness
• exultation
• ecstasy
• exuberance
• lightheartedness
• jubilation
• bliss
• rapture
• exhilaration
• joyousness
• gladness
• joyfulness
• mirthfulness
• gleefulness
• blissfulness
• elatedness
• rapturousness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of despondency

Instead, a combination of internal disputes, instability around Alvaro Arbeloa’s position and the fact that several players are facing an uncertain future means the picture is one of discord and despondency. — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 5 May 2026

At each meeting, trustees face outrage over the 1,000 pink slips issued to district staff and parent despondency over the closure of preschool programs and other services. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 23 Apr. 2026

But while some like Nazanin feel a despondency heading into the new year, for others, hope springs eternal. — Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026

There are delicate parallels in O’Halloran’s screenplay showing the different ways in which the Evans men deal with their despondencies. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026