1
Lose hope after failure
Feel unable to expect improvement.
Example
The team became despondent after repeated funding rejections.
despondent
/dɪˈspɒndənt/ · dih-SPON-duhntadjective
Deeply discouraged and without hope.
Use despondent for a sustained state of dejection caused by failure, loss, or bleak prospects.
What despondent Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Dejected mood
Show deep discouragement.
Example
Her despondent letters contrast with her hopeful early notes.
3
Bleak public outlook
A group expecting conditions to worsen.
Example
Residents grew despondent as factories continued to close.
Use despondent Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The team became despondent after repeated funding rejections.
Her despondent letters contrast with her hopeful early notes.
Residents grew despondent as factories continued to close.
Precision Matters
Despondent overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
despondent
vs.Feels hopeless.
ambivalent
Has mixed feelings.
despondent
vs.Lacks hope of recovery.
resilient
Recovers after difficulty.
despondent
vs.Is deeply discouraged.
irate
Is intensely angry.
despondent
vs.Feels painful concern.
indifferent
Shows little concern.
Test despondent in Context
Repeated failure has caused deep loss of hope.
1
After the third expedition failed to locate the species, the researchers felt ___ and began to doubt that any population survived.