Despond — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /di-ˈspänd/ de·spond

Meaning & Definition of Despond

Despond (verb)

  1. to become despondent

Despond (noun)

  1. despondency

Despond (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state or spell of low spirits

    "he sank into a crushing despond after his wife left him"

    similar: blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolefulness, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, miserableness, mopes, mournfulness, oppression, sadness, sorrowfulness, unhappiness
    related: melancholia, self-pity, anguish, dolor, grief, mourning, somberness, sorrow, woefulness, agony, distress, pain, misery, woe, wretchedness, discouragement, disheartenment, moodiness, despair, desperation, hopelessness, self-despair, boredom, ennui, tedium, dismalness, drear, morbidness, moroseness, morosity, regret, rue
    opposite: bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, happiness, heaven, intoxication, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness
    near: gaiety, gayness, glee, gleefulness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, hopefulness, optimism, sunniness, content, contentedness, contentment, satisfaction, delight, gratification

  2. utter loss of hope

    "loss of his job threw him into a deep despond"

    similar: despair, desperation, despondence, despondency, forlornness, hopelessness, slough of despond
    related: blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolor, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, gloom, gloominess, joylessness, melancholy, mopes, oppression, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, self-despair, self-pity, dolefulness, mournfulness, sorrowfulness, woefulness, agony, distress, pain, misery, woe, wretchedness, cynicism, pessimism, acceptance, resignation
    opposite: hope, hopefulness
    near: cheer, cheerfulness, sunniness, optimism, gaiety, glee, gleefulness, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, gladness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness

Despond (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to lose all hope or confidence

    "we must not despond even though we live in trying times"

    similar: despair, lose heart
    related: give up, surrender, yield, darken, sadden, agonize, bleed, grieve, hurt, mourn, sorrow, suffer, discourage, dishearten, dispirit
    opposite: brighten, cheer (up), perk (up)
    near: exult, rejoice, assure, encourage, hearten, reassure, hope

Related Entry: Slough of despond (phrase)

Slough of despond is a different word from Despond. The synonyms below are for slough of despond, not for despond.

  1. utter loss of hope

    "She had the support of her friends and family through her slough of despond."

    similar: despair, desperation, despond, despondence, despondency, forlornness, hopelessness
    related: blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolor, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, gloom, gloominess, joylessness, melancholy, mopes, oppression, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness, self-despair, self-pity, dolefulness, mournfulness, sorrowfulness, woefulness, agony, distress, pain, misery, woe, wretchedness, cynicism, pessimism, acceptance, resignation
    opposite: hope, hopefulness
    near: cheer, cheerfulness, sunniness, optimism, gaiety, glee, gleefulness, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, gladness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Despond

The most common words with a similar meaning to Despond:

blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolefulness, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, forlornness, gloom, gloominess, glumness, heartsickness, joylessness, melancholy, miserableness, mopes, mournfulness, oppression, sadness, sorrowfulness, unhappiness, despair, desperation, hopelessness, slough of despond, lose heart

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Despond

Words with the opposite meaning of Despond:

bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, happiness, heaven, intoxication, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness, hope, hopefulness, brighten, cheer (up), perk (up)

Related Words for Despond

melancholia, self-pity, anguish, dolor, grief, mourning, somberness, sorrow, woefulness, agony, distress, pain, misery, woe, wretchedness, discouragement, disheartenment, moodiness, self-despair, boredom, ennui, tedium, dismalness, drear, morbidness, moroseness, morosity, regret, rue, cynicism

Near Antonyms of Despond

gaiety, gayness, glee, gleefulness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, optimism, sunniness, content, contentedness, contentment, satisfaction, delight, gratification, exult, rejoice, assure, encourage, hearten, reassure

Word Forms of Despond

Inflections: desponded, desponding, desponds

Origin & Etymology of Despond

Latin despondēre, from de- + spondēre to promise solemnly spouse

First known use: 1655

Words & Phrases Containing Despond

slough of despond

Frequently Asked Questions about Despond

What does "Despond" mean?

"Despond" means to become despondent. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to become despondent. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Despond"?

Other words for "Despond" include blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despondence, despondency and disconsolateness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Despond" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Despond"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Despond". Common alternatives include blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despondence, despondency, disconsolateness, dispiritedness and doldrums.

What is the opposite of "Despond"?

Antonyms of "Despond" include bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration and exuberance. Near antonyms include gaiety, gayness, glee and gleefulness.

How do you use "Despond" in a sentence?

Examples of "Despond" in a sentence: "he sank into a crushing despond after his wife left him"; "loss of his job threw him into a deep despond"; "we must not despond even though we live in trying times".

Is "Despond" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Despond" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Despond"?

"Despond" is pronounced /di-ˈspänd/ and divided into syllables as de·spond.

What is the origin of the word "Despond"?

"Despond" comes from Latin despondēre, from de- + spondēre to promise solemnly spouse. First known use: 1655.