despondency
noun
de·spon·den·cy di-ˈspän-dən-sē 
: the state of being despondent or extremely low in spirits : dejection, hopelessness
sank into despondency while he was unemployed
Synonyms
- 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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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
Recent Examples on the Web But rather than suffer despondency from bearing witness to humanity’s irreparable harm, my real-life reaction spurred by this rare taste of solitude, proved the opposite. 
Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 5 July 2022 Ulman said her heritage as a Ukrainian Jew keeps her from plunging into despondency. Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2022 Just a few days earlier, Manchin had killed the Democrats’ climate-and-tax bill for the second time, setting off Hill protests and general despondency within the Party. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022 With one game, Mayfield changed the despondency that hung over the Browns and FirstEnergy Stadium from the previous two years. Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 9 July 2022 The feeling of despondency mixed with self-hatred and panic created an emotional scene. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 June 2022 Can’t sadness and parental grief and despondency be discussed, managed and supported, without launching a paramilitary response? Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2022 In the end, what keeps the album engaging amid the despondency is the not entirely defatigable Posty persona itself… on top of his and chief collaborator Louis Bell’s underrated knack for strong, conversational melodies. Chris Willman, Variety, 5 June 2022 Dion offers neither false hope nor despondency, just hard-nosed resolution. Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2022 See More
Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 5 July 2022 Ulman said her heritage as a Ukrainian Jew keeps her from plunging into despondency. Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2022 Just a few days earlier, Manchin had killed the Democrats’ climate-and-tax bill for the second time, setting off Hill protests and general despondency within the Party. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022 With one game, Mayfield changed the despondency that hung over the Browns and FirstEnergy Stadium from the previous two years. Ashley Bastock, cleveland, 9 July 2022 The feeling of despondency mixed with self-hatred and panic created an emotional scene. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 June 2022 Can’t sadness and parental grief and despondency be discussed, managed and supported, without launching a paramilitary response? Washington Post, 10 Apr. 2022 In the end, what keeps the album engaging amid the despondency is the not entirely defatigable Posty persona itself… on top of his and chief collaborator Louis Bell’s underrated knack for strong, conversational melodies. Chris Willman, Variety, 5 June 2022 Dion offers neither false hope nor despondency, just hard-nosed resolution. Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see despond entry 1
First Known Use
1653, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
despondency
noun
de·spon·den·cy di-ˈspän-dən-sē
: dejection, sadness
despondency
noun
1
as in sadness
a state or spell of low spirits in despondency because he couldn't seem to settle into a lasting relationship Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- sadness
- sorrowfulness
- melancholy
- depression
- sorrow
- gloom
- mournfulness
- anguish
- dejection
- grief
- despondence
- despair
- unhappiness
- misery
- gloominess
- desperation
- oppression
- miserableness
- glumness
- heartsickness
- joylessness
- dreariness
- despond
- agony
- blues
- forlornness
- dumps
- downheartedness
- mourning
- mopes
- boredom
- pain
- distress
- doldrums
- melancholia
- desolation
- blue devils
- hopelessness
- regret
- disconsolateness
- dispiritedness
- discouragement
- dolefulness
- somberness
- wretchedness
- self-pity
- ennui
- disheartenment
- dolor
- woe
- moroseness
- tedium
- moodiness
- drear
- morbidness
- woefulness
- self-despair
- rue
- morosity
- dismalness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- elation
- euphoria
- joy
- exultation
- happiness
- ecstasy
- jubilation
- exuberance
- intoxication
- bliss
- joyousness
- exhilaration
- rapture
- mirth
- gladness
- joyfulness
- glee
- felicity
- optimism
- heaven
- gayety
- gaiety
- hopefulness
- joviality
- humor
- jollity
- cheerfulness
- blissfulness
- lightheartedness
- merriment
- gayness
- contentment
- satisfaction
- cheeriness
- cheer
- mirthfulness
- gleefulness
- contentedness
- content
- elatedness
- rapturousness
- gratification
- sunniness
- gladsomeness
- delight
2
as in despair
the state of being discouraged in their despondency they seemingly forgot that losing teams can become winning teams in a single season Synonyms & Similar Words
- despair
- dismay
- discouragement
- defeatism
- demoralization
- depression
- dejection
- melancholy
- gloom
- disheartenment
- pessimism
- resignation
- blues
- dumps
- dispiritedness
- mopes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- encouragement
- optimism
- sanguinity
3
as in desperation
utter loss of hope never once gave into despondency and self-pity during her long recovery from her injuries in the car crash Synonyms & Similar Words
- despair
- desperation
- sadness
- hopelessness
- sorrow
- despondence
- depression
- melancholy
- despond
- misery
- forlornness
- agony
- gloom
- resignation
- dejection
- sorrowfulness
- unhappiness
- oppression
- pain
- distress
- gloominess
- mournfulness
- slough of despond
- joylessness
- dreariness
- acceptance
- blues
- pessimism
- dumps
- cynicism
- mopes
- dolor
- desolation
- self-pity
- doldrums
- wretchedness
- downheartedness
- self-despair
- woe
- blue devils
- dispiritedness
- disconsolateness
- woefulness
- dolefulness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hopefulness
- hope
- cheerfulness
- optimism
- cheer
- mirth
- elation
- glee
- gaiety
- euphoria
- gayety
- exultation
- joy
- joviality
- sunniness
- jollity
- happiness
- ecstasy
- jubilation
- exuberance
- bliss
- joyousness
- merriment
- lightheartedness
- exhilaration
- rapture
- gladness
- joyfulness
- mirthfulness
- gleefulness
- blissfulness
- elatedness
- rapturousness