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
That realization, though, is key to Stephen’s curdling idealism in the film, a moral collapse that Gosling gives urgency and despondency.
—
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 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
Much of the Shamblins’ lawsuit — echoing past claims of wrongdoing by families of users who were allegedly mistreated or supported in their bad acts by ChatGPT and other AI — traces his descent into despondency.
—Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
But, uh, do think like, uh, action is the, antidote to despondency.
—Outside Online, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondency
Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 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
Much of the Shamblins’ lawsuit — echoing past claims of wrongdoing by families of users who were allegedly mistreated or supported in their bad acts by ChatGPT and other AI — traces his descent into despondency.
—Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
But, uh, do think like, uh, action is the, antidote to despondency.
—Outside Online, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despondency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondency
Noun
-
His profound sadness and rage give the audience permission to feel similarly.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
-
The Spurs accrued a 10-point lead at that point, blitzing the Knicks with the type of pressure expected from a team that was a loss away from an offseason filled with sadness.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2026
Noun
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On the other side of the couch, Kyle sits staring at them both, alternating between anger and grief, and although Andy didn’t spend much time trying to peel back the layers of Kyle’s despair, his aimlessness is as much at the heart of this season as anything Amanda and West did.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
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So much of the pessimism and the despair that fueled the piece has even greater purchase now.—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Vegas pulled Carter Hart with about three minutes to go, officially entering desperation mode, but nothing worked, and Nikolaj Ehlers scored an empty-netter to start the party.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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Much of what looks like desperation is closer to opportunity and overlap.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
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His high point will be long forgotten, disastrously undone by his successor to plunge the world into recession, if not depression.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2026
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Soft spots in the base beneath the blacktop can lead to depressions.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
13 June 2026
Noun
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As his business takes off, Yoshii decides to quit his day job at a clothing factory, to the shock and dismay of his boss, Takimoto (Yoshiyoshi Arakawa), who had just offered him a promotion.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
17 July 2025
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But to her dismay, her name was only found on the snubs and surprises lists.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
16 July 2025
Noun
-
Looking through a glass darkly like the apostle Paul in the New Testament, the New York rhymer and enigma muses on hopelessness on this highlight from his ninth album, Golliwog.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
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In the past couple of years, hope has faded into a bout of hopelessness between the Penguins and Pittsburgh.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
19 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Coppola and production designer Ziering will explore their creative partnership, the aesthetic and emotional storytelling that defines Coppola’s visual universe — from the suburban melancholy of Palo Alto to the luminous complexity of The Last Showgirl.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
29 Oct. 2025
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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
Noun
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Edgerton captures the essence of sorrow like lightning bugs in a jar; his sadness isn’t a dark, overbearing thing, but a source of gentle, mournful light.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
11 Dec. 2025
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The sorrow songs are also a record of their time, a commentary on their present so as to shape another coming present.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondency. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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