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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Patty’s, where Matt fights his old mentor, alternating between rage and despondency.
—
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2025
Injuries and performances are two football-relevant reasons for despondency, while United’s poor financial results point to more staff cuts.
—Andy Mitten, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Her despondency, her credulities, her joys.
—Hannah Gold, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
Much contemporary writing exhibits despondency about the possibilities of relationships.
—Haley Mlotek, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondency
Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2025
Injuries and performances are two football-relevant reasons for despondency, while United’s poor financial results point to more staff cuts.
—Andy Mitten, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
Her despondency, her credulities, her joys.
—Hannah Gold, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
Much contemporary writing exhibits despondency about the possibilities of relationships.
—Haley Mlotek, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondency
Noun
-
So many of the adults who held our communities together have been lost to mass incarceration, to addictions—diseases of despair—as drugs have replaced jobs and hope in our neighborhoods, often turning them into war zones.—
Asha Bandele,
Essence,
25 June 2025
-
The best dystopian films are the most plausible ones, and Children Of Men feels all too real, from the political factions to the way humanity both descends into despair and miraculously comes together to help those who need it most.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Noun
-
Remove every trace of desperation from your online presence.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
Out of desperation, Red Bull chose to swap Liam Lawson and Tsunoda following two underwhelming races by Lawson.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
Noun
-
However, the series main character, Mi-ji, has been able to move past the depression that kept her from chasing her ambitions for years.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
30 June 2025
-
Composting locations don’t need to be perfectly level, but selecting a spot that doesn’t have any significant inclines or depressions makes compost piles much easier to manage.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Six games into the 1981-82 season, Johnson expressed dismay over then-coach Paul Westhead, which paved the way for a 36-year-old Pat Riley to take over as head coach.—
James Jackson,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
-
The insults didn’t phase Springsteen, who has since continued to voice his dismay with the current state of affairs in his home country on stage.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
Labor Day is suffused with a certain melancholy at the end of summer and children are already back in school.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2025
-
That betrayal, like so many others, fed the melancholy in Brian's music.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
15 June 2025
Noun
-
Not the murder, not the arrival of the addicted sister, but the removal of the boy that has been at the core of so much sorrow and betrayal between the sisters.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
20 June 2025
-
That haunting blend of sorrow and defiance shaped us.—
Nazanin Boniadi,
Time,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
There was just one happy ending amidst all this doom and gloom, as Sae-byeok (Hoyeon) got her wish from beyond the grave.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 June 2025
-
And creator Sarah Williams does a remarkable job transitioning from early storylines about a big, warm, eccentric family to later episodes that weigh Diana and Unity’s monstrous choices without succumbing to doom and gloom.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondency. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share