Word
despondent
Phoneticsde·spon·dent, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈspɑndənt/
UK/dɪspˈɒndənt/
Definition
adj. feeling very sad and without much hope. You feel this way when you think a situation is so bad that it will never improve.
adj. feeling or showing extreme discouragement, dejection, or depression. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'become', 'feel', or 'seem'.
Examples
“He became despondent after he failed his driving test again.”
“The team grew increasingly despondent as the clock ticked down and they remained three goals behind.”
“Despite the initial setback, she refused to let the despondent mood of the office affect her own determination to see the project through to completion.”
Examples
simple
“He became despondent after he failed his driving test again.”
contextual
“The team grew increasingly despondent as the clock ticked down and they remained three goals behind.”
complex
“Despite the initial setback, she refused to let the despondent mood of the office affect her own determination to see the project through to completion.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “despondent” in context.
Verb
01. become despondent
“It is easy to become despondent when your hard work is not recognized.”
verb + adj
02. despondent about
“Many voters are despondent about the current state of politics.”
adj + prep
03. despondent over
“He was despondent over the loss of his long-term partner.”
adj + prep
04. feel despondent
“I felt despondent for a few days, but then I decided to try again.”
verb + adj
05. leave despondent
“The defeat left the players feeling despondent and exhausted.”
verb + adj
06. make despondent
“The constant bad news began to make him despondent about the future.”
verb + adj
Adjective
07. deeply despondent
“He became deeply despondent after his business failed.”
adv + adj
08. increasingly despondent
“As the search continued without success, the family grew increasingly despondent.”
adv + adj
Noun
09. mood despondent
“The general mood was despondent following the announcement of the cuts.”
noun + adj
10. a despondent note
“The report ended on a despondent note, warning of further economic decline.”
11. grow despondent about the future
“Young people may grow despondent about the future due to climate change.”
12. leave someone feeling despondent
“The rejection letter left him feeling despondent for weeks.”
Usage
Often follows a linking verb; frequently paired with 'about' or 'over' to indicate the cause of the sadness.
Real-World Examples
“But, his family says, he grew increasingly despondent and humiliated by the ankle monitor he was forced to wear.” “Despondent residents returned to gutted homes and fire-scarred landscapes northwest of Athens on Tuesday as wildfires eased across Greece, though hundreds of firefighters were on alert for persistent flare-ups in rugged hills and canyons across the country.” “About a year and a half ago, during an especially taxing period, I found myself so despondent that I sought the advice of yet another physician—only to be offered the same medications that had previously let me down.” “The 22-year-old, who feels much older than his years, seemed despondent, his shoulders drooping and his gaze fixed on the ground.” Etymology
From the Latin dēspondēns, the present participle of the verb dēspondēre, meaning to give up or to abandon. While the Latin root was frequently employed in the context of dēspondēre animum—literally, to lose one’s soul or spirit—the English term has functioned as a standalone adjective for a loss of courage since the late 17th century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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