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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Common signs include persistent sadness, low energy, poor concentration, loss of interest in activities, changes in appetite or weight, and feelings of guilt or worthlessness.—
Brandon Peters,
Verywell Health,
29 Oct. 2025
-
My impression of her first version of that song was also sadness being depicted as sadness.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Postpartum depression can cause a range of symptoms, including intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, or despair that keeps new moms from being able to go about their daily life, per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Business leaders should take note that anxiety without agency deepens despair.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing are already in celebration mode with locks into the final four, while Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports are in full desperation mode heading into the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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In particular, Van Sant’s direction is at once intimate and explosive, framing the chaos with empathy, allowing the audience to feel the pulse of desperation behind every decision.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
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This grounding technique is meant to relieve anxiety, stress, depression, and PTSD.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Unfortunate outcast kids Lilly (Clara Stack), Ronnie (Amanda Christine), Phil (Jack Molloy Legault) and Terry (Mikkal Karim Fidler) are at the center of the mysterious disappearances and the supernatural horrors, to their very poor luck and dismay of the adults in their lives.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
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Factory owners expressed their dismay on social media, noting that while workplace safety had improved significantly over the past decade, unregulated factories remained vulnerable.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These could include feelings of overwhelming sadness (despondence), a sense that life will never get better (hopelessness) or actual thoughts of killing themselves.—
Dr. Theresa T. Nguyen,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
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Like regular depression, SAD can cause negative feelings like hopelessness, worthlessness, irritability, and guilt; fatigue or reduced energy; a loss of interest in hobbies and activities; and even physical aches and pains (including headaches, cramps, and digestive problems).—
Maggie O'Neill,
SELF,
20 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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Joy, love, and meaningful connections remain possible beyond the sorrow, stigma, and isolation that often accompany a diagnosis.—
Essence,
Essence,
21 Oct. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondency. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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