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
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Recent Examples of despondency
But, uh, do think like, uh, action is the, antidote to despondency.
—
Outside Online, 1 Oct. 2025
But the open spaces between them express an urban despondency that’s hard to discount.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 9 Sep. 2025
This need not be a recipe for despondency.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Amid claustrophobic layers of sadness, grief and despondency, Anohni emerged as the most fearless kind of provocateur — a truth-teller who refused to remain silent and complacent in the face of injustice and wrongdoing.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for despondency
Outside Online, 1 Oct. 2025
But the open spaces between them express an urban despondency that’s hard to discount.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 9 Sep. 2025
This need not be a recipe for despondency.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Amid claustrophobic layers of sadness, grief and despondency, Anohni emerged as the most fearless kind of provocateur — a truth-teller who refused to remain silent and complacent in the face of injustice and wrongdoing.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for despondency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondency
Noun
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Rosalía joined in September, writing about the purpose of her art but also the sadness around her birthday.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
15 Feb. 2026
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The manipulations also affected how much sadness and anger participants reported feeling while scrolling.—
Simon Makin,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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That this administration can reasonably be viewed as a criminal enterprise should not be cause for despair.—
James Speyer,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
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There are moments where the album’s tone skews leaden, where Shaw positions us right on the edge of despair.—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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At just 22 years of age, Wembanyama plays with the desperation of a 15-year vet making one last playoff run before retirement.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Feb. 2026
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Too many Floridians are being driven to desperation by skyrocketing premiums.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Tobacco parallels The Los Angeles trial centers on allegations made by a 20-year-old woman, Kaley, and her mother that four social media giants intentionally designed addictive platforms that hooked her as a child and led to mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
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Today, Hirsch points out, depression glass is a valuable collectible, particularly in its prettiest pastel colors.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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So many friends and colleagues have reached out through emails and texts to check in, and share their dismay over what is happening.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
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That shock and dismay was even more heavy for Matkom because the Fifth Street School was among his favorite developments.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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His motion veered between expressions of hopelessness and elaborate proposals for prisoner exchanges.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
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The American intelligence community has long known that insurgent groups—many of which openly seek the destruction of the United States—rely on desperation, food insecurity, and hopelessness to gain recruits.—
Hana Kiros,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Turner plays the middle brother with intriguing melancholy and an almost alien detachment, which works within the world this film creates, but not necessarily for a main character.—
David Opie,
IndieWire,
15 Feb. 2026
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Fanning’s name was the first called when nominations were announced, signaling that Scandinavian melancholy would be notably absent that morning.—
Glenn Whipp,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow and condolences to the victims’ families and directed authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
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And this production certainly has that, making for a consistently entertaining drama that can quicken your heart one minute and plunge it into profound sorrow the next.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondency. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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