DESPONDENCE Synonyms: 111 Similar and Opposite Words

despondence

noun

di-ˈspän-dən(t)s

Definition of despondence

as in sadness

a state or spell of low spirits her slumping posture betrayed a growing despondence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in desperation

utter loss of hope the ability to endure defeat without despondence has allowed him to weather the ups and downs of an acting career

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of despondence Liborio speaks with a mix of rage and despondence about his situation; complaining about the pejorative labels those around him call him to diminish his existence. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026 From shock to anger to despondence. — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026 These could include feelings of overwhelming sadness (despondence), a sense that life will never get better (hopelessness) or actual thoughts of killing themselves. — Dr. Theresa T. Nguyen, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025 Amidst the initial confusion that followed the freezing of USAID grants, the mood across the humanitarian sector was one of panic, anxiety, and quiet despondence. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 Democrats have already begun the autopsy on the election results as Harris supporters express a mix of outrage and despondence. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024 Baade, who remembers his own father’s despondence when the Braves left town, doesn’t outright dismiss the idea that the Brewers could leave, agreeing that a smaller-market team is at a disadvantage. — Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2023 Amy's behavior demonstrates how scoring high in each of these components facilitates a flexible, confident and passionate approach to life and ensures a strong degree of resiliency when faced with anxiety, despondence and overwhelm. — Roberta Moore, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023 Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recalls his own quiet despondence when Dallas began the season not only with a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but a five-game loss of quarterback Dak Prescott to a thumb fracture. — Dallas News, 30 Oct. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for despondence

Noun

For example, expressing appreciation for past help or thanking the doctor for their time was more helpful than emphasizing sadness or frustration.

— Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
But our frustrations and inconvenience pale in comparison to the sadness of those who knew the deceased or to the trauma the drivers involved experienced.

— Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of sadness

Noun

The glacier was likely a cirque glacier, the officials said, which is a glacier that has formed in a depression or basin high in the mountains.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026
Sprague said the motive in the killings came down to giving Clancy a way out of her depression.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of depression

Noun

Along with a brief moment of tenderness Sara experiences with her class’s resident dork, this feminine camaraderie makes for a nugget of niceness in a sea of despair.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026
Yet the film’s firmest punch is packed in the despair and dignity of Sul’s performance, as a man coming to terms with how much he’s lost.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of despair

Noun

These proposals, many times rooted in sympathy and love, were presented as alternatives to the political structures and market logic that had so often led to war, exploitation, hopelessness, and suffering.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Their disaffection can create a culture of hopelessness and emotional stasis that lasts well past any economic recovery.

— Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of hopelessness

Noun

The day ended in that same quad with feelings of sorrow, grief, shock and confusion.

— PJ Green August 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026
Going back to the Mets example, perhaps in an uber-technical sense a Mets’ loss could have marginal economic impact as some fans guzzle more beer to drown away their sorrows.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of sorrow

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desponded

despondence

despondency

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“Despondence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despondence. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of despondence

noun

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