despondency

noun

de·​spon·​den·​cy di-ˈspän-dən-sē 

: the state of being despondent or extremely low in spirits : dejection, hopelessness

sank into despondency while he was unemployed

Synonyms

• blue devils
• blues
• dejection
• depression
• desolation
• despond
• despondence
• disconsolateness
• dispiritedness
• doldrums
• dolefulness
• downheartedness
• dreariness
• dumps
• forlornness
• gloom
• gloominess
• glumness
• heartsickness
• joylessness
• melancholy
• miserableness
• mopes
• mournfulness
• oppression
• sadness
• sorrowfulness
• unhappiness

Examples of despondency in a Sentence

in despondency because he couldn't seem to settle into a lasting relationship

in their despondency they seemingly forgot that losing teams can become winning teams in a single season

Recent Examples on the Web

Katie Hafner: The mood of the research team, Dora wrote, turned from elation to despondency. —Katie Hafner, Scientific American, 31 Oct. 2024

Ultimately the day ended for the Bears with a new wave of anger, embarrassment and despondency. —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2024

He’s perched in front of jagged cliffs while hiking outside of Arles, France, a blue baseball cap pulled over his hair, cheeks extra-ruddy in the sun, his default affability tempered by a sense of despondency. —Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 27 Sep. 2024

Juniper Hills resident Diane Swick, 60, transitioned from joy to despondency quickly in early August. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see despond entry 1

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

despondency

noun

de·​spond·​en·​cy

di-ˈspän-dən-sē

: the state of being despondent : dejection, discouragement