1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
he sank into a crushing despond after his wife left him
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in despair
utter loss of hope
loss of his job threw him into a deep despond
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to despair
to lose all hope or confidence
we must not despond even though we live in trying times
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despond
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despond
Noun
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This is really just, across America, giving folks that maybe feel a lot of despair across this first month an outlet to feel heard and understood and comforted by like-minded individuals.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
25 Feb. 2025
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Their opulent investment in wages for Lorenzo Insigne has royally backfired, costing Bill Manning his job last summer and digging the Reds into a deep pit of despair for the past couple of years.—
Jeff Rueter,
The Athletic,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Prolonged, elevated cortisol levels or chronic stress can disrupt these processes, leading to inflammation, chronic pain, depression, and even the progression of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.2 Cortisol levels are meant to slowly decline throughout the day.—
Caitlin Pagán,
Verywell Health,
28 Feb. 2025
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It's being leveraged across industries, from automating routine tasks to addressing challenges like C-suite depression and burnout.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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With the Heat entering Saturday in seventh place in the Eastern Conference and four games behind the sixth-place Detroit Pistons for the East’s final playoff spot that doesn’t require having to go through play-in, the standings have helped create that level of desperation.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
2 Mar. 2025
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When guests arrive in town with a plan that will uproot Junie’s life, her act of desperation wakes Minnie’s spirit from the grave, also unveiling horrifying secrets about Bellereine.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In her new book, Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, Perry explores blue as a symbol of both hope and melancholy throughout Black history.—
Tonya Mosley,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2025
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The Elephant Man is an elegant picture, one of Lynch’s most straightforward and touching films—but even then, the joyful melancholy of its visual poetry is distinctly his own.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
TIME,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Joanne Hsu, surveys of consumers director for the university, said consumers aligned with independent and Democratic parties have more doom and gloom than their Republican counterparts, accounting for the shift down.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
4 Mar. 2025
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But any doom and gloom as fashion week approached did not deter the most passionate fans, whose eclectic attire in and outside shows nodded to London’s sartorial tradition of bucking convention.—
Simbarashe Cha,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Residents gathered in Hostages Square, outside Israel's defense headquarters, as sorrow set in across the country.—
Chris Kenning,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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The sorrows of the women are also narrativized with poignancy and emotionality.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despond.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despond. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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