1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
her slumping posture betrayed a growing despondence
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the ability to endure defeat without despondence has allowed him to weather the ups and downs of an acting career
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Recent Examples of despondence
Emitting a combination of anger, frustration, and despondence, the University of Utah’s fifth-year junior quarterback was 15 minutes removed from throwing a back-breaking interception in the end zone that helped seal a 29-26 University of Florida win at The Swamp.
—
Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022
My pandemic weariness turned into despondence.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2021
Baade, who remembers his own father’s despondence when the Braves left town, doesn’t outright dismiss the idea that the Brewers could leave, agreeing that a smaller-market team is at a disadvantage.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2023
Amy's behavior demonstrates how scoring high in each of these components facilitates a flexible, confident and passionate approach to life and ensures a strong degree of resiliency when faced with anxiety, despondence and overwhelm.
—Roberta Moore, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recalls his own quiet despondence when Dallas began the season not only with a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but a five-game loss of quarterback Dak Prescott to a thumb fracture.
—Dallas News, 30 Oct. 2022
Both question the human costs of work, zooming in on the affects—despondence, alienation, indifference—that businesses produce alongside goods and services.
—Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2022
In Ohio on Monday night, though, Trump used the misstatements to project confidence and ward off any despondence among supporters in the face of polls that continue to show Biden with a solid lead nationwide.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 23 Sep. 2020
And whether through aloofness or despondence, 27 percent said none of the words offered matched their feelings.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2019
Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022
My pandemic weariness turned into despondence.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2021
Baade, who remembers his own father’s despondence when the Braves left town, doesn’t outright dismiss the idea that the Brewers could leave, agreeing that a smaller-market team is at a disadvantage.
—Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2023
Amy's behavior demonstrates how scoring high in each of these components facilitates a flexible, confident and passionate approach to life and ensures a strong degree of resiliency when faced with anxiety, despondence and overwhelm.
—Roberta Moore, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recalls his own quiet despondence when Dallas began the season not only with a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but a five-game loss of quarterback Dak Prescott to a thumb fracture.
—Dallas News, 30 Oct. 2022
Both question the human costs of work, zooming in on the affects—despondence, alienation, indifference—that businesses produce alongside goods and services.
—Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2022
In Ohio on Monday night, though, Trump used the misstatements to project confidence and ward off any despondence among supporters in the face of polls that continue to show Biden with a solid lead nationwide.
—Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 23 Sep. 2020
And whether through aloofness or despondence, 27 percent said none of the words offered matched their feelings.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondence
Noun
-
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
-
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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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
-
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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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
-
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
“Despondence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondence. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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