Synonyms of despondence

despondence

noun

di-ˈspän-dən(t)s 

1

as in sadness

a state or spell of low spirits

her slumping posture betrayed a growing despondence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sadness
• depression
• melancholy
• sorrowfulness
• mournfulness
• sorrow
• anguish
• gloom
• grief
• dejection
• unhappiness
• misery
• despondency
• despair
• desperation
• oppression
• gloominess
• agony
• glumness
• joylessness
• heartsickness
• dreariness
• blues
• forlornness
• despond
• dumps
• mourning
• pain
• miserableness
• mopes
• boredom
• desolation
• doldrums
• distress
• downheartedness
• melancholia
• blue devils
• regret
• self-pity
• hopelessness
• somberness
• discouragement
• disconsolateness
• dispiritedness
• dolefulness
• wretchedness
• ennui
• dolor
• woe
• disheartenment
• tedium
• moodiness
• moroseness
• drear
• morbidness
• woefulness
• rue
• self-despair
• morosity
• dismalness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elation
• joy
• euphoria
• happiness
• exultation
• exuberance
• ecstasy
• jubilation
• bliss
• intoxication
• joyousness
• exhilaration
• rapture
• gladness
• joyfulness
• mirth
• heaven
• glee
• felicity
• optimism
• joviality
• merriment
• gaiety
• humor
• hopefulness
• jollity
• cheerfulness
• blissfulness
• lightheartedness
• gayness
• satisfaction
• cheeriness
• contentment
• cheer
• gleefulness
• mirthfulness
• content
• elatedness
• contentedness
• rapturousness
• gratification
• gladsomeness
• sunniness
• delight

2

as in desperation

utter loss of hope

the ability to endure defeat without despondence has allowed him to weather the ups and downs of an acting career

Synonyms & Similar Words

• desperation
• despair
• sadness
• hopelessness
• sorrow
• despondency
• depression
• melancholy
• forlornness
• slough of despond
• despond
• misery
• agony
• resignation
• oppression
• unhappiness
• pain
• sorrowfulness
• gloom
• dejection
• distress
• mournfulness
• gloominess
• acceptance
• joylessness
• dreariness
• self-pity
• blues
• dumps
• dolor
• pessimism
• cynicism
• desolation
• doldrums
• wretchedness
• downheartedness
• mopes
• self-despair
• woe
• blue devils
• disconsolateness
• dispiritedness
• woefulness
• dolefulness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hopefulness
• hope
• cheerfulness
• optimism
• cheer
• mirth
• glee
• sunniness
• elation
• joy
• joviality
• merriment
• gaiety
• euphoria
• happiness
• exultation
• jollity
• ecstasy
• exuberance
• jubilation
• bliss
• lightheartedness
• exhilaration
• rapture
• joyousness
• gladness
• joyfulness
• gleefulness
• mirthfulness
• blissfulness
• elatedness
• rapturousness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of despondence

Liborio speaks with a mix of rage and despondence about his situation; complaining about the pejorative labels those around him call him to diminish his existence. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026

From shock to anger to despondence. — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026

These could include feelings of overwhelming sadness (despondence), a sense that life will never get better (hopelessness) or actual thoughts of killing themselves. — Dr. Theresa T. Nguyen, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025

Amidst the initial confusion that followed the freezing of USAID grants, the mood across the humanitarian sector was one of panic, anxiety, and quiet despondence. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Democrats have already begun the autopsy on the election results as Harris supporters express a mix of outrage and despondence. — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2024

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