adjective

despondent

/dɪˈspɒndənt/ · say it: dih·SPON·duhnt

in low spirits from loss of hope

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

feeling sad, hopeless, and without confidence about the future; having lost hope or courage

Examples

After failing the exam twice, he felt despondent and considered giving up on his studies.

How to use despondent

Despondent describes a state of low mood characterized by loss of hope rather than mere sadness; it suggests a deeper, more persistent hopelessness about future circumstances. It is more literary and formal than 'sad' or 'down', and often appears in descriptions of people facing difficult situations or setbacks. The word emphasizes lack of courage or confidence rather than acute grief.

Common phrases

feel despondent
grow despondent
sound despondent
deeply despondent
despondent about

Synonyms

dejected · dispirited · disheartened · melancholy · downhearted

Opposites

hopeful · optimistic · cheerful

Word family

despondency (noun) · despondently (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse despondent with desperate; despondent means having lost hope, while desperate means willing to do anything because of urgency or hopelessness.

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