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
For a player who had just scored on his Bundesliga debut, Tillman was a portrait of despondency.
—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
This need not be a recipe for despondency.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Ukrainians react to peace prospects In Kyiv, residents expressed a mixture of hope and despondency at the latest peace efforts.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 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
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
This need not be a recipe for despondency.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Ukrainians react to peace prospects In Kyiv, residents expressed a mixture of hope and despondency at the latest peace efforts.
—Illia Novikov, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 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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Julianne cited her sisters' accomplishments in their own fields, as well as their flourishing personal lives, as a reason why the sadness never flowered into full-on resentment.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
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Shock, anger, sadness, disbelief were words used by multiple senior sources inside the West Wing, ABC News' Katherine Faulders said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As France awaits its next prime minister, Bacharan says many people are in despair over the uncertainty this has brought on the country.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
9 Sep. 2025
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Mauricio says his wife didn’t give in to that despair and felt reassured by having a work permit.—
Gustavo Valdés,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But before long his hearing begins to disappear, leading him down a panicked trail of denial, anger and desperation.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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The Irish have scored four total touchdowns in the past two games against Elko, which included that desperation run by Audric Estime at Duke two years ago.—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In these homes, the conflict between budgeting and feeding kids well creates huge psychological stress for parents, which can lead to anxiety and depression, fueling the vicious cycle of stress and unhealthy eating, Beresin said.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
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In recent years, the Brit had been open about his struggles with alcohol, drugs and depression.—
Jamie Barton,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Moments after it was confirmed that Charlie Kirk died from a gunshot wound during a college event Wednesday in Utah, several Arkansas political leaders went to social media to express their dismay over the conservative activist's death.—
Ella McCarthy,
Arkansas Online,
10 Sep. 2025
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To the dismay of party insiders, Anderson slipped through the 1994 Republican primary to win the GOP nomination for state attorney general.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As history tells us, when the most vicious wars inevitably come to an end, destruction, chaos and hopelessness are left in their wake.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
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Today that sense of hopelessness has been replaced by a sense of determination and a good deal more hope.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The result is a film that glimmers with moments of wit and melancholy but never settles into coherence.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
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The film is a series of character studies, quiet, observational and non-judgmental – a comedy, but interwoven with threads of melancholy.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Maggie O’Farrell’s 2020 novel Hamnet imagined the relationship between the Bard and his spouse as an intimate tale of lust, compromise, joy, resentment, support, and sorrow.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
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Jolie nonetheless manages to bring some palpable life to the role, complicating her otherworldly magnetism with a dawning dread and sorrow.—
Richard Lawson,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondency. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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