adjective
despondent
dih-SPON-duhnt
Despondent (adjective) means feeling low, discouraged, and without hope. Example: “He became despondent after failing the exam for the third time.”
adjective
1
Feeling low, discouraged, and without hope.
"He became despondent after failing the exam for the third time."
"The team looked despondent after conceding a last-minute goal."
How to use despondent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling sad and discouraged, as if you've given up hope.
Common pairings
grow despondent
despondent about
a despondent mood
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more despondent
- Superlative
- most despondent
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He became _____ after failing the exam for the third time.
Etymology
From Latin despondere, "to give up" or "to lose heart".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for despondent
See all rhymes for despondent →Frequently asked questions
What does “despondent” mean?
The word “despondent” means feeling low, discouraged, and without hope. In plain terms, feeling sad and discouraged, as if you've given up hope.
How do you pronounce “despondent”?
“Despondent” is pronounced dih-SPON-duhnt (/dɪˈspɒndənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “despondent” in a sentence?
Here is “despondent” used in a sentence: “He became despondent after failing the exam for the third time.”
What is the opposite of “despondent”?
The opposite of “despondent” — its antonyms — are cheerful and hopeful.
What part of speech is “despondent”?
“Despondent” is an adjective.
Where does the word “despondent” come from?
The word “despondent” comes from Latin. From Latin despondere, "to give up" or "to lose heart".
