dispirit
Low (Formal/Literary)Formal, literary. Less common in everyday speech where 'discourage' or 'demoralize' are preferred.
Definition
Meaning
To cause someone to lose enthusiasm, hope, or courage; to depress the spirits of.
The verb focuses on the action of diminishing someone's morale, energy, or optimism. It often implies a gradual or lasting effect rather than a momentary sadness. It can be used in contexts ranging from personal disappointment to collective demoralization in groups, teams, or populations.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Dispirit is a causative verb; the subject acts upon the object to reduce its spirit/morale. It is often used in passive constructions ('felt dispirited'). It has a more profound, inward, and lasting connotation than 'disappoint'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word is equally formal and low-frequency in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly antiquated or literary in both dialects.
Frequency
Marginal in both. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British literary or formal journalistic contexts, but the difference is negligible.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] dispirits [Object][Object] be dispirited by [Subject]It is dispiriting to [verb]...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To take the wind out of someone's sails (related in effect)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe the effect of poor results or toxic management on staff morale: 'The latest quarterly figures dispirited the entire sales force.'
Academic
Found in historical or sociological texts discussing public sentiment: 'The prolonged war dispirited the civilian population.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used self-consciously for emphasis: 'The endless grey weather is so dispiriting.'
Technical
Not typically used in technical fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manager's harsh words dispirited the young apprentices.
- A run of poor performances threatened to dispirit the squad.
American English
- The constant political attacks dispirit voters.
- Failing to secure funding dispirited the research team.
adverb
British English
- He shook his head dispiritedly.
- They trudged dispiritedly back to the changing rooms.
American English
- She spoke dispiritedly about the project's chances.
- He looked around the empty room dispiritedly.
adjective
British English
- She gave a dispirited sigh and put down her pen.
- After the rejection letter, he felt utterly dispirited.
American English
- The dispirited employees filed out of the meeting.
- His dispirited expression said it all.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Losing the game dispirited the players.
- It is dispiriting to work so hard and see no results.
- The team was visibly dispirited after conceding a last-minute goal.
- A series of bureaucratic delays dispirited even the most optimistic campaigners.
- The chancellor's pessimistic forecast dispirited the markets, leading to a sell-off.
- He managed to avoid sounding dispirited, despite the profound setbacks his research had suffered.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIS + SPIRIT. To remove or diminish the spirit (enthusiasm, courage) from someone.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALE IS A FLUID/SPIRIT (to be dispirited is to have one's spirit lowered or drained).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как "рассеивать" (to disperse).
- Не путать с "отчаиваться" (to despair) – dispirit это причина, а не состояние; состояние это "to be dispirited".
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for 'disperse' (a different word).
- Incorrect: 'The crowd was dispirited by the police.' (Correct: 'The crowd was dispersed...').
- Using 'dispirit' to mean 'to become sad' instead of 'to make someone sad'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST definition of 'dispirit'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are close synonyms, but 'dispirit' often implies a deeper, more profound effect on someone's core morale or hope, and is more formal.
No, it is not typically used reflexively. It is a transitive verb where an external agent affects the object. You would say 'I became dispirited' or 'That dispirited me'.
'Dispirited' describes a temporary state of low morale or disappointment, often with a specific cause. 'Depressed' is a stronger, more clinical term that can indicate a longer-term mental health condition.
The participial adjective 'dispirited' (describing the person who has lost spirit) is more common than the present-participle adjective 'dispiriting' (describing the cause), though both are used.
Explore