despond
1 of 2verb
de·spond di-ˈspänd 
desponded; desponding; desponds
intransitive verb
: to become despondent
despond
2 of 2noun
: despondency
Synonyms
Verb
- despair
Noun
- blue devils
- blues
- dejection
- depression
- desolation
- despondence
- despondency
- 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
Verb we must not despond even though we live in trying times Noun he sank into a crushing despond after his wife left him loss of his job threw him into a deep despond
Recent Examples on the Web
The Editorial Board, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2020 Animal spirits might buoy up markets again, or investors might sink back into the sort of despond that ended 2015, but sentiment currently offers little guide. James Mackintosh, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2018 Animal spirits might buoy up markets again, or investors might sink back into the sort of despond that ended 2015, but sentiment currently offers little guide. James Mackintosh, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2018 On its best nights, the N.B.A. offers a free-jazz apex, as good teams (none of which are found within hundreds of miles of that basketball despond in New York City) offer jukes and passes and shooting. Michael Powell, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2016
Noun
Their partnership—in fighting Communism and reviving the U.S. economy after the despond of the 1970s—changed American debate. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2020 Animal spirits might buoy up markets again, or investors might sink back into the sort of despond that ended 2015, but sentiment currently offers little guide. James Mackintosh, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2018 Animal spirits might buoy up markets again, or investors might sink back into the sort of despond that ended 2015, but sentiment currently offers little guide. James Mackintosh, WSJ, 20 Dec. 2018 On its best nights, the N.B.A. offers a free-jazz apex, as good teams (none of which are found within hundreds of miles of that basketball despond in New York City) offer jukes and passes and shooting. Michael Powell, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2016 Word History
Etymology
Verb
Latin despondēre, from de- + spondēre to promise solemnly — more at spouse
First Known Use
Verb
1655, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1678, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing despond
desponded
verb
as in despaired
to lose all hope or confidence we must not despond even though we live in trying times Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- despaired
- lost heart
- suffered
- grieved
- gave up
- mourned
- hurt
- surrendered
- saddened
- discouraged
- darkened
- yielded
- agonized
- bled
- dispirited
- disheartened
- sorrowed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cheered (up)
- brightened
- assured
- rejoiced
- encouraged
- perked (up)
- reassured
- hoped
- exulted
- heartened
- put someone down for
- put someone in a pigeonhole
- put someone in her place
- put someone in his place
- put someone in his/her place
- put someone in mind of
- put someone in mind of something
- put someone in the picture
- put someone off her stride
- put someone off her stroke
- put someone off his stride
- put someone off his stroke
- put someone on a pedestal
- put someone on to
- put someone or something in the shade
- put someone or something through her paces
- put someone or something through his paces
- put someone or something through its paces
- put someone or something to shame
- put someone or something to the test
- put someone out of a job
- put someone out of work
- put someone out to grass
- put someone straight
- put someone to flight