1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits
in despondency because he couldn't seem to settle into a lasting relationship
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2
as in despair
the state of being discouraged
in their despondency they seemingly forgot that losing teams can become winning teams in a single season
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3
as in desperation
utter loss of hope
never once gave into despondency and self-pity during her long recovery from her injuries in the car crash
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Recent Examples of despondency
He’s perched in front of jagged cliffs while hiking outside of Arles, France, a blue baseball cap pulled over his hair, cheeks extra-ruddy in the sun, his default affability tempered by a sense of despondency.
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Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 27 Sep. 2024
Juniper Hills resident Diane Swick, 60, transitioned from joy to despondency quickly in early August.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024
What’s most interesting about them is how their initial economic despondency justifies their ensuing amorality, and how materialism becomes a guiding principle since the Company has given them nothing else to believe in.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2024
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There was a sense of despondency at the FDA’s decision, especially among veteran communities where PTSD is prevalent.
—Olivia Goldhill and Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despondency 
Kate Knibbs, WIRED, 27 Sep. 2024
Juniper Hills resident Diane Swick, 60, transitioned from joy to despondency quickly in early August.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2024
What’s most interesting about them is how their initial economic despondency justifies their ensuing amorality, and how materialism becomes a guiding principle since the Company has given them nothing else to believe in.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Feb. 2024
Newsletters Sign up for Morning Rounds Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day
Privacy Policy
There was a sense of despondency at the FDA’s decision, especially among veteran communities where PTSD is prevalent.
—Olivia Goldhill and Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despondency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondency
Noun
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There is nothing worse than hopelessness, nothing more soul-destroying than pessimism, grief, and despair.Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2024
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Cooper's observations reflect the despair of countless individuals who have sought fairness and compassion, only to encounter roadblocks and bureaucratic indifference.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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And having any sort of feeling of desperation related to the production of artwork is so wrong, so counterintuitive to any creative practice.Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
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Buffalo’s offense was so dominant that Detroit coach Dan Campbell felt compelled to try a desperation onside kickoff just three minutes into the fourth quarter.Tim Graham, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Read More: Why Some Men Keep Their Prostate Cancer a Secret Anxiety and Depression Both mindfulness practices and relaxation therapies seem to help people with cancer manage any resulting anxiety or depression, Balneaves says.Markham Heid, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
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Sometimes, medications such as antidepressants or antianxiety drugs may help to improve the tinnitus caused by depression or anxiety.Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Writing about the Budapest Memorandum, Zelensky voiced his dismay regarding the 1994 agreement, which was meant to ensure Ukrainian security and sovereignty from Russia.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
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These apparent one-off features were not included in the 2024 edition, to the dismay of many.Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Nearly all of them from his late grandmother, who occasionally spoke with melancholy and pride about her older son, Jack.Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 6 Dec. 2024
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But Adams often located a layer of melancholy beneath her characters’ sunny surfaces, and those early performances had a depth that now makes her versatility seem obvious.Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Hendrix went on to say the foundation shared in the sorrow of the child’s passing.Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 3 Dec. 2024
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The topic, then, is sorrow, songs of sorrow, sounds of sorrow.Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Despite predictions of doom and gloom and the odd technology issue on the website, there is no doubt that the website still runs well.Adam Fayed, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Republicans, after years of doom and gloom, are feeling great about the economy again.Matt Egan, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Despondency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondency. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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