Verb
we must not despond even though we live in trying times Noun
he sank into a crushing despond after his wife left him
loss of his job threw him into a deep despond
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Noun
Lonely and addicted to her social media feeds, Selena plunged into a deep despond and filmed her death-by-overdose on Snap.—Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2024 The slough of Mardenborough's despond comes towards the end of the film when a crash at the Nürburgring results in the death of a spectator.—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 11 Aug. 2023 Their partnership—in fighting Communism and reviving the U.S. economy after the despond of the 1970s—changed American debate.—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2020 Animal spirits might buoy up markets again, or investors might sink back into the sort of despond that ended 2015, but sentiment currently offers little guide.—James MacKintosh, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2018 On its best nights, the N.B.A. offers a free-jazz apex, as good teams (none of which are found within hundreds of miles of that basketball despond in New York City) offer jukes and passes and shooting.—Michael Powell, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2016
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Latin despondēre, from de- + spondēre to promise solemnly — more at spouse
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