despond
Low frequency (Literary/Formal)Formal, literary, somewhat archaic.
Definition
Meaning
To become profoundly disheartened, discouraged, and lose hope or courage.
A state of low spirits or dejection; specifically, to sink into a state of melancholy and apathy due to adversity or disappointment. It implies a more profound and sustained loss of hope than mere sadness.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically, 'despond' could also be a noun meaning 'despondency', but this usage is now obsolete. The verb is almost always intransitive, describing an internal state rather than an action done to something else. It suggests a passive giving way to despair rather than an active reaction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally uncommon and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes a somewhat literary, even old-fashioned tone. It may appear in historical fiction, formal writing, or psychological discourse.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects. More likely encountered in written texts than spoken language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] desponds.[Subject] desponded over/about/at [object/event].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Never despond.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially used in formal reports or commentary about morale: 'The team began to despond after the third quarter's poor results.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, historical texts, or psychology to describe a character's or historical figure's state of mind.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound stilted. More common alternatives: 'get down', 'lose hope'.
Technical
Occasionally in clinical psychology or pastoral care to describe a specific state of reactive hopelessness.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She watched the relentless rain and began to despond.
- One must not despond, even in the face of such setbacks.
American English
- After the project failed, he desponded for weeks.
- It's crucial for a leader not to despond publicly.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He started to despond when he didn't get the job.
- Despite the initial failures, the researcher refused to despond and continued her experiments.
- There is a danger that the community will despond if support is withdrawn now.
- The poet's later works reflect a man beginning to despond at the state of the modern world.
- Historians note that the general did not despond after the lost battle but immediately planned his counteroffensive.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pond (DESPOND) that is so dark and deep that if you fall into its despair, you sink without hope.
Conceptual Metaphor
DESPAIR IS A DEEP PLACE (sink into despondency).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'отвечать' (to respond). 'Despond' is unrelated to 'response'.
- The closest direct translation is 'впадать в уныние' or 'отчаиваться'. It is not a momentary sadness but a deeper, more passive state.
Common Mistakes
- Using it transitively (e.g., 'The bad news desponded him' - Incorrect).
- Confusing it with the more common noun 'despondency'.
- Using it in casual speech where simpler words are expected.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'despond' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'lose hope' or 'get discouraged'.
In historical usage, yes, meaning 'despondency'. However, this is now obsolete. In modern English, 'despond' is exclusively a verb, and the noun form is 'despondency'.
They are close synonyms. 'Despond' often implies a quieter, more internalised sinking into dejection, while 'despair' can be more intense and absolute. 'Despond' is also a less common and more literary choice.
It is most commonly used alone as an intransitive verb. Occasionally, it can be followed by 'over', 'about', or 'at' to specify the cause (e.g., 'despond over the loss').