despondency
/dɪˈspɒn.dən.si/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A feeling of low hope and deep sadness, especially when something goes wrong. It is stronger and more lasting than simple disappointment.
- She felt despondency after the exam results.
- His despondency made it hard to keep trying.
- The news filled her with despondency.
Adinary Nuance
Despondency is stronger and darker than disappointment. It is also more lasting than sadness, which can be temporary. Compared with despair, despondency usually suggests less complete hopelessness. Writers choose it when they want a formal word for heavy discouragement.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự chán nản
- Spanish
- desánimo
- Chinese
- 沮丧
- Japanese
- 落胆
- Korean
- 낙담
Etymology
Despondency comes from Latin roots meaning “to lose hope.” It entered English through French in the 16th century.
Common phrases
fall into despondencydeep despondencyfeel despondencya state of despondency
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is despondency the same as sadness?
- Not exactly. Despondency is deeper and often includes loss of hope.
- Is despondency formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and is common in writing, news, and academic English.
- What is the difference between despondency and despair?
- Despondency means deep discouragement. Despair suggests stronger hopelessness.
- Can I use despondency in everyday speech?
- You can, but it may sound serious or literary in casual conversation.