despondency

noun

di-ˈspän-dən-sē How to pronounce despondency (audio)
Definition of despondencynext
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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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 despondency 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 Its title perfectly captures her ability to chronicle in song frustration and hope, despondency and transcendence, with soulful grace and grit. — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for despondency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondency
  1. sadness
  2. despair
  3. desperation
  4. depression
  5. dismay
  6. hopelessness
  7. melancholy
  8. sorrow
Noun
  • Her sadness and traumatic experiences, such as the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing and the death of her ex-boyfriend Mac Miller in 2018, have become intertwined with her career.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026
  • Compared to individual contributors, leaders were substantially more likely–by seven percentage points–to report experiencing a lot of stress, anger (+12 points), sadness (+11 points) and loneliness (+10 points) the previous day.
    — Barnaby Lashbrooke, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • His sister died in early 2019, and his mom had died a few years prior, and most posts are tributes to them, or raw expressions of despair.
    — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
  • In despair, reportedly at least 20 students committed suicide.
    — Asim Ali, Time, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of despair
Noun
  • Driven by desperation, the migrants are gambling that the consequences of getting caught in Canada will outweigh the risks of remaining in the United States, the Mounties and human rights officials said.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • The mystery character, played by Sadie Sink, is also dealing with her own demons of loss and fatalistic desperation.
    — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of desperation
Noun
  • Why More Men Are Turning to TRT Symptoms of low testosterone often get misread as depression, stress or ordinary aging.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • Studies show social media raises children’s risk of depression and behavioral problems.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 30 July 2026
Definition of depression
Noun
  • Lionfish supplanted indigenous stocks like the red mullet to the dismay of fishers, who have seen local varieties popular with customers greatly diminish.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • Later, their tentative friendship turns into something more passionate — to the dismay of eavesdropping Asla, who realizes she is not the party Helge’s charm was aimed at.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026
Definition of dismay
Noun
  • With the current political climate, Love sees the hopelessness in the world and took it upon herself to create room for people to be a part of a community that desires to curate a safe space.
    — Zuri Primos July 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
  • Surveys indicate that young women are experiencing their highest rates of hopelessness on record.
    — Elizabeth Dray, STAT, 21 July 2026
Definition of hopelessness
Noun
  • Beneath all the sensuality and beauty, there’s also a lingering melancholy that feels very familiar to me.
    — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 16 June 2026
  • Don Hertzfeldt occasionally comes to mind for a similarly pervasive mood of questioning, philosophical melancholy.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 12 June 2026
Definition of melancholy
Noun
  • Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life.
    — Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • President and prime minister offer condolences Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of sorrow

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Cite this Entry

“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondency. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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