Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):
   • To lose or lack confidence, courage, or hope; to become dejected, dispirited, or profoundly discouraged. It describes a state of sinking into low spirits, often due to adversity or disappointment.

Usage

• Verb: The verb "despond" is a formal and somewhat literary term. It is almost always used intransitively (without a direct object). It describes a deep, internal emotional state, stronger than simply feeling "sad" and closer to "despair." It often implies a loss of the will to strive or hope.
  • Example: After the third failed attempt, he began to despond.
  • Example: The team must not despond despite the setback.

Examples in Use

• Verb:
  • Even in the face of great hardship, she refused to despond.
  • The artist desponded when his work was repeatedly rejected by galleries.
  • It is easy to despond when reading constant negative news.

Advanced Usage

• "To despond over/at/about something": To become dejected because of a specific cause.
  • He desponded over the loss of his manuscript.
  • They desponded at the news of the budget cuts.

Variants and Related Words

• Despondency (noun): A state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage.
  • A mood of deep despondency settled over the group.
• Despondent (adjective): In low spirits from loss of hope or courage.
  • She was despondent after hearing the diagnosis.
• Despondently (adverb): In a despondent manner.
  • He sighed despondently.

Synonyms

• Despair: To lose all hope, often considered stronger than "despond."
• Lose heart: An idiomatic phrase meaning to become discouraged.
• Become dejected/dispirited/downhearted: To become sad and without enthusiasm.

Antonyms

• Hope: To want something to happen or be true.
• Take heart: An idiomatic phrase meaning to gain courage or confidence.
• Be encouraged/cheered/heartened: To be given support, confidence, or hope.

Notes on Usage

• Formality: "Despond" is a formal and somewhat rare verb. In everyday conversation, phrases like "lose hope," "get discouraged," or "become despondent" are more common.
• Connotation: It carries a weight of profound, sometimes passive, discouragement rather than acute, active grief.

Verb

1. lose confidence or hope; become dejected
   • The supporters of the Presidential candidate desponded when they learned the early results of the election