adjective

disconsolate

/dɪsˈkɒnsələt/ · say it: dis·KON·suh·lit

unable to be comforted; deeply unhappy

In Emotions & Moods

In more detail

1. (adjective) sad and without hope; unable to be comforted

Examples

1. After losing the championship game, the team felt disconsolate and couldn't celebrate.

How to use disconsolate

Disconsolate describes a state of deep sadness marked by hopelessness and inability to be cheered up, often used in literary or formal contexts. It conveys a stronger sense of despair than mere sadness and implies a kind of emotional isolation. Unlike inconsolable (which focuses on resistance to comfort), disconsolate emphasizes the absence of comfort and hopefulness.

Common phrases

disconsolate mood
disconsolate expression
look disconsolate
remain disconsolate
disconsolate after

Synonyms

melancholy · despondent · forlorn · inconsolable · dejected

Opposites

cheerful · hopeful · consoled

Word family

console · consolation · inconsolable · disconsolately

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use disconsolate to mean simply 'sad' rather than reserving it for the more extreme state of hopelessness and inability to be comforted.

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