Definition

Noun: A state or feeling of being sad, dejected, or lacking in energy and enthusiasm; a condition of low spirits or mild depression.

Usage

"Low-spiritedness" is a formal noun used to describe a persistent feeling of sadness or melancholy. It is not typically used in casual conversation but may appear in literary, psychological, or descriptive contexts. It describes a general emotional state rather than a momentary feeling.

Examples

• The gray, rainy weather contributed to a general low-spiritedness among the office staff.
• After receiving the disappointing news, a period of low-spiritedness was understandable.
• The novel's protagonist is often characterized by a deep low-spiritedness.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical/Descriptive Context: The term can be used in a descriptive, non-clinical sense to differentiate from a diagnosed medical condition like depression.
  • The therapist noted the patient's low-spiritedness but distinguished it from major depressive disorder.

Variants and Related Words

• Low-spirited (adjective): Feeling sad and without energy or hope.
  • He felt particularly low-spirited after the meeting.
• Lowness of spirits (noun phrase): An older, more formal phrase with the same meaning as "low-spiritedness."
  • She complained of a persistent lowness of spirits.

Synonyms

• Dejection: A state of sadness and low spirits.
• Despondency: A state of low spirits caused by loss of hope or courage.
• Melancholy: A feeling of pensive sadness, often with no obvious cause.
• Gloom: A state of partial or total darkness; a state of depression or despondency.

Antonyms

• High-spiritedness: The state of being lively and cheerful.
• Elation: Great happiness and exhilaration.
• Cheerfulness: The quality or state of being noticeably happy and optimistic.

Noun

1. a feeling of low spirits
   • he felt responsible for her lowness of spirits