DESPONDENT Synonyms: 175 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'despondent' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of despondent are despairing , desperate , and hopeless . While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort. // despondent about yet another rejection

Q: Where would 'despairing' be a reasonable alternative to 'despondent'?

The words despairing and despondent can be used in similar contexts, but despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency. // despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

Q: When would 'desperate' be a good substitute for 'despondent'?

The synonyms desperate and despondent are sometimes interchangeable, but desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration. // one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle

Q: In what contexts can 'hopeless' take the place of 'despondent'?

While in some cases nearly identical to despondent , hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation. // the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

despondent

adjective

di-ˈspän-dənt

Definition of despondent

as in desperate

feeling or showing no hope after four days and still no word that the missing plane had been located, the relatives were despondent

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in depressed

feeling unhappiness feeling despondent over the death of another close friend

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective despondent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of despondent are despairing, desperate, and hopeless. While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

Where would despairing be a reasonable alternative to despondent?

The words despairing and despondent can be used in similar contexts, but despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

When would desperate be a good substitute for despondent?

The synonyms desperate and despondent are sometimes interchangeable, but desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.

one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle

In what contexts can hopeless take the place of despondent?

While in some cases nearly identical to despondent, hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

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 despondent The latest installment out of imagination emporium Pixar finds Bonnie’s beloved toys despondent over the arrival of Lilypad. — Sandra Gonzalez, CNN Money, 19 June 2026 Feeling despondent, with little hope for the future or enjoyment of the present? — Danielle Marie Holland, Parents, 6 June 2026 People might become despondent that AI is ultimately going to be our end. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 At 11, despondent over the course of her young life, Cox attempted suicide by swallowing all of her mother’s pills. — Lizzie Hyman, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for despondent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondent

Adjective

Republicans are desperate to hold onto at least one chamber of the state Legislature as a block against a Democratic monopoly in Lansing.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
At work as a typist for a legal firm, Betty is confronted by a woman in more desperate straits than her own.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of desperate

Adjective

Defense attorney Kimberly Stevens painted Birchmore as a depressed young woman battling lifelong adversities who constructed a fantasy world around marrying Farwell.

— Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2026
In Splintered Harmony, Azriel is depressed as hell — is there not a doctor in Velaris to get this guy a Zoloft prescription?

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of depressed

Adjective

Though Sauron holds out some hope that Celebrimbor’s secrets might, or an Elven-smith who worked with him might, be found, an assertive Orc named Marnûkh (Adam Young) suggests that this situation is hopeless.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2026
But Texans also have something to teach the country about digging in and fighting for a seemingly hopeless cause; conservatives aren’t the only ones who remember the Alamo.

— Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of hopeless

Adjective

Sheriff’s officials sad Damico, who had personal ties with Canata, claimed to be his power of attorney but was unable to provide any correlating paperwork or a will to verify such statements.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Nov. 2026
The musical comedy has earned Moore raves on the festival circuit for her role as a sad suburban homemaker turned anxious aspiring actress in a New Jersey community theater.

— Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 9 Nov. 2026

Definition of sad

Adjective

The heartbroken dad wasn’t home when the child fell out the window.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 5 Nov. 2026
The death of Sir Patrick Stewart has left Hollywood heartbroken as his co-stars, colleagues, and fellow actors recall rare encounters, days on set, and priceless advice the acting legend shared with them.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of heartbroken

Adjective

Introduced in a state of drunken collapse, Anderson — fearful, bitter, despairing, protective — is quite magnificent limning different levels of intoxication.

— Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Smashed with the instep of Mbappe’s right foot, the ball arced viciously into the top-right corner, beyond Bounou’s despairing dive.

— Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of despairing

Adjective

Mazel tov to Wallace, but for my money, the biggest moment on this miserable, rainy family holiday is the revelation that Nanny Marie has been with the Webbs since the beginning.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
Once flights became frequent, the noise made people miserable.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of miserable

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“Despondent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondent. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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