DESPONDENT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does despondent mean? 

• DESPONDENT (adjective)
  The adjective DESPONDENT has 1 sense:

1. without or almost without hope

  Familiarity information: DESPONDENT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DESPONDENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Without or almost without hope

Synonyms:

despondent; heartsick

Context example:

too heartsick to fight back

Similar:

hopeless (without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success)

Derivation:

despond (lose confidence or hope; become dejected)

despondence; despondency (feeling downcast and disheartened and hopeless)

 Context examples 

"Never," she answered, with a despondent but decided air.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Seldom have I seen him so utterly despondent.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

All I see has made me thankful, not despondent.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Memory brought madness with it, and when I thought of what had passed, a real insanity possessed me; sometimes I was furious and burnt with rage, sometimes low and despondent.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

It's very strange, said Mr. Dick, with a despondent look upon his papers, and with his hand among his hair again, that I never can get that quite right.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"I did fail, say what you will, for Jo wouldn't love me," began Laurie, leaning his head on his hand in a despondent attitude.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Your habitual expression in those days, Jane, was a thoughtful look; not despondent, for you were not sickly; but not buoyant, for you had little hope, and no actual pleasure.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Be patient, Jo, don't get despondent or do rash things, write to me often, and be my brave girl, ready to help and cheer all.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The divine afflatus usually lasted a week or two, and then she emerged from her 'vortex', hungry, sleepy, cross, or despondent.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Jo groaned and leaned both elbows on the table in a despondent attitude, but Amy spatted away energetically, and Beth, who sat at the other window, said, smiling, Two pleasant things are going to happen right away.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)