Skip to content
GREMockTests
GRE vocabulary

despondent

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore D words

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage

Word origin: From Latin despondere, to give up or lose heart.

In a sentence

Despondent in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing despondent in a sentence.

After the third rejection, she grew despondent about her prospects.

After the third rejection in a month, the young author grew despondent about ever finding a publisher.

Synonyms
dejecteddisheartenedforlorn
Antonyms
hopefulbuoyantcheerful
Usage & nuance

Using “despondent” well

Despondent describes a low state caused by lost hope, pairing with dejected and disheartened. It is deeper than ordinary sadness, implying discouragement that saps the will to continue.

Common questions

Questions about “despondent

Despondent (adjective) means in low spirits from loss of hope or courage
Here is despondent used in an example sentence: "After the third rejection, she grew despondent about her prospects." Another example: "After the third rejection in a month, the young author grew despondent about ever finding a publisher."
Common synonyms for despondent include dejected, disheartened, forlorn.
Antonyms of despondent include hopeful, buoyant, cheerful.
Clusters with dejected, disheartened, and forlorn in Sentence Equivalence. Antonyms hopeful, buoyant, and cheerful describe high or rising spirits.
Yes. Despondent is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

Learn words the way the GRE tests them.

Vocabulary sticks when you meet it in real sentences. Practise these words inside text completion and sentence equivalence questions.