despondent

Meanings

• adjective

  Feeling or showing great sadness, despair, or hopelessness.

  - "The soldier was despondent after hearing the news of his friend's death."
  - "She felt despondent and helpless after losing her job."

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Antonyms

cheerful , hopeful

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Synonyms

crestfallen , dejected , despairing , disconsolate , disheartened , downcast , gloomy , heartsick , hopeless , miserable , sad

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with despondent
recluse , dewdrop , muse , abuse , refuse , improve

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Variants

List of all variants of despondent that leads to same result
despondent , despondently

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Old French word 'desponder', meaning 'to be powerless' or 'helpless'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. Despondent is an antonym of the word 'elated'.

2. Despondency was a common theme in Romantic literature, with many poets exploring the idea of the 'melancholic' or 'despondent' hero.

3. In some cases, the term 'despondent' can be used to describe a situation or event, rather than a person. For example, 'The news of the failed business deal left the entire town despondent.'

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. depression: A mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of energy. Depression is a more severe and long-lasting condition than despondency.

2. grief: A natural response to loss, often characterized by feelings of sadness, despair, and hopelessness. Grief is a normal and necessary process, while despondency may indicate an excessive or prolonged response to loss.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. His colleagues did not care for his "despondent" company, which made him suffer more, which perpetuated their distance …

   - Noah Charney,{it}The Art Thief{/it},2007

2. The Simpsons' plots are a bit more sophisticated than their Saturday morning counterparts and are occasionally tinged with pathos—as when Homer loses his job at the nuclear-power plant and becomes "despondent" and even suicidal.

   - Jerry Lazar,{it}TV Guide{/it},13 Jan. 1990

3. Writers who spend much time in universities are likely to grow "despondent" over the future of literature, for there it is treated as a finished thing.

   - Louis Simpson,{it}New York Times Book Review{/it},21 Nov. 1982

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Despondency is a common theme in literature and art, often portrayed as a deep sadness or despair. In Shakespeare's play 'Hamlet', the character Ophelia is described as being 'despairing' and 'despondent' after the death of her father and the madness of her lover.

How to Memorize "despondent"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine a person with their head in their hands, crying and looking very sad. Visualize this image whenever you come across the word 'despondent'.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'despondent' with feelings of sadness, despair, and hopelessness.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Use the mnemonic 'Despair, Sadness, Hopelessness' to remember the meaning of 'despondent'.

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