Despondency — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /di-ˈspän-dən-sē/ de·spon·den·cy

Meaning & Definition of Despondency

Despondency (noun)

  1. the state of being despondent or extremely low in spirits, dejection, hopelessness

Despondency (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state or spell of low spirits

    "in despondency because he couldn't seem to settle into a lasting relationship"

    similar: blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despond, despondence, 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. the state of being discouraged

    "in their despondency they seemingly forgot that losing teams can become winning teams in a single season"

    similar: demoralization, despair, discouragement, disheartenment, dismay, dispiritedness
    related: blues, dejection, depression, dumps, gloom, melancholy, mopes, defeatism, pessimism, resignation
    opposite: encouragement
    near: optimism, sanguinity

  3. utter loss of hope

    "never once gave into despondency and self-pity during her long recovery from her injuries in the car crash"

    similar: despair, desperation, despond, despondence, 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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Despondency

The most common words with a similar meaning to Despondency:

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

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Despondency

Words with the opposite meaning of Despondency:

bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, felicity, gladness, gladsomeness, happiness, heaven, intoxication, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness, encouragement, hope, hopefulness

Related Words for Despondency

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

Near Antonyms of Despondency

gaiety, gayness, glee, gleefulness, humor, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness, cheer, cheerfulness, cheeriness, optimism, sunniness, content, contentedness, contentment, satisfaction, delight, gratification, sanguinity

Origin & Etymology of Despondency

First known use: 1653

Frequently Asked Questions about Despondency

What does "Despondency" mean?

"Despondency" means the state of being despondent or extremely low in spirits, dejection, hopelessness. As a noun, it is defined as: the state of being despondent or extremely low in spirits, dejection, hopelessness. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Despondency"?

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

What are different ways to say "Despondency"?

There are 68 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Despondency". Common alternatives include blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, despond, despondence, disconsolateness, dispiritedness and doldrums.

What is the opposite of "Despondency"?

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

How do you use "Despondency" in a sentence?

Examples of "Despondency" in a sentence: "in despondency because he couldn't seem to settle into a lasting relationship"; "in their despondency they seemingly forgot that losing teams can become winning teams in a single season"; "never once gave into despondency and self-pity during her long recovery from her injuries in the car crash".

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

"Despondency" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Despondency"?

"Despondency" is pronounced /di-ˈspän-dən-sē/ and divided into syllables as de·spon·den·cy.

What is the origin of the word "Despondency"?

First known use: 1653.