despondingly
Definition
Adverb: In a manner that expresses or is characterized by loss of hope or confidence; with a feeling of despondency.
Usage Examples
- (She looked in a hopeless, discouraged way.)
- (He spoke in a manner showing deep disappointment and loss of hope.)
Advanced Usage
"to reply despondingly": to answer in a way that shows one has given up hope.
- When asked about his chances of recovery, the patient replied despondingly, "I don't think so." (He answered with a tone of hopelessness.)
"to stare despondingly": to gaze fixedly with a sense of despair.
- The unemployed worker stared despondingly at the "Help Wanted" sign, knowing he lacked the required skills. (He looked with a feeling of defeat.)
Variants and Related Words
Despondent (adj): feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, or discouragement.
- After the third rejection, he felt completely despondent. (He was deeply discouraged.)
Despondency (n): a state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage.
- A cloud of despondency hung over the team after their loss. (A feeling of hopelessness.)
Synonyms
- Hopelessly: in a way that shows no expectation of a positive outcome.
- Dejectedly: in a sad and disheartened manner.
- Forlornly: in a pitifully sad and abandoned way.
Related Idioms
"to be in the depths of despair": to be in a state of extreme hopelessness.
- She was in the depths of despair, and she spoke despondingly to everyone she met. (She was completely without hope.)
"to lose heart": to become discouraged or lose confidence.
- After so many failures, he began to lose heart and acted despondingly. (He became hopeless.)