despondence

noun

de·​spon·​dence di-ˈspän-dən(t)s How to pronounce despondence (audio)

Examples of despondence in a Sentence

her slumping posture betrayed a growing despondence the ability to endure defeat without despondence has allowed him to weather the ups and downs of an acting career
Recent Examples on the Web Emitting a combination of anger, frustration, and despondence, the University of Utah’s fifth-year junior quarterback was 15 minutes removed from throwing a back-breaking interception in the end zone that helped seal a 29-26 University of Florida win at The Swamp. Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Sep. 2022 My pandemic weariness turned into despondence. Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2021 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 Both question the human costs of work, zooming in on the affects—despondence, alienation, indifference—that businesses produce alongside goods and services. Stephen Kearse, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2022 In Ohio on Monday night, though, Trump used the misstatements to project confidence and ward off any despondence among supporters in the face of polls that continue to show Biden with a solid lead nationwide. Todd J. Gillman, Dallas News, 23 Sep. 2020 And whether through aloofness or despondence, 27 percent said none of the words offered matched their feelings. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 12 Nov. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'despondence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of despondence was in 1657

Dictionary Entries Near despondence

Cite this Entry

“Despondence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despondence. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!