disspirit: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C1/C2 level word)Formal, literary. More common in writing than casual speech.
Quick answer
What does “disspirit” mean?
To deprive of morale or enthusiasm.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To deprive of morale or enthusiasm; to make someone lose hope or confidence.
To cause a person or group to feel dejected, discouraged, or low in spirits; to demoralize.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more frequent in British formal/literary contexts.
Connotations
Formal, somewhat old-fashioned. Implies a deep, lasting feeling of discouragement rather than a temporary setback.
Frequency
Uncommon in both varieties. 'Dishearten', 'demoralize', or 'discourage' are far more frequent choices.
Grammar
How to Use “disspirit” in a Sentence
[Subject] dispirited [Object] (rare)[Subject] felt/looked/became dispirited[Subject] found the situation dispiritingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “disspirit” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The manager's harsh criticism dispirited the entire staff. (Rare, formal)
American English
- The loss dispirited the team for the rest of the season. (Rare, formal)
adverb
British English
- He shook his head dispiritedly. (Very rare)
American English
- She spoke dispiritedly about the future. (Very rare)
adjective
British English
- After the defeat, the players wore dispirited expressions.
American English
- She gave a dispirited shrug when asked about her job search.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
'The team was dispirited after the project's cancellation.' Used to describe low employee morale.
Academic
'The dispirited electorate showed low turnout.' Used in political science or sociology texts.
Everyday
'The constant rain left us feeling dispirited.' Less common in casual talk.
Technical
Not typically used in technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “disspirit”
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “disspirit”
- *He was dispirited *by* the news. (Correct: He was dispirited by the news.)
- Using 'dispirited' as a common present-tense verb: *'This weather dispirits me.' (Grammatically correct but very rare; prefer 'disheartens').
- Spelling: Common misspelling as '*disspirited*'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Dispirited' (as an adjective) is vastly more common than the base verb 'dispirit'. Most learners will only encounter the adjective form.
'Dispirited' describes a temporary state of low morale or disappointment, often caused by a specific event. 'Depressed' is a more severe, clinical, and lasting mental health condition.
Yes. 'Dispiriting' is the present participle/adjective form describing something that causes dispiritedness (e.g., 'a dispiriting meeting'). It is more common than the verb 'dispirit'.
Yes, it belongs to a formal or literary register. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say 'discouraged', 'down', or 'demoralized'.
To deprive of morale or enthusiasm.
Disspirit: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈspɪr.ɪ.tɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈspɪr.ə.t̬ɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(Not strongly idiomatic; the term itself carries the figurative meaning.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIS (not, away from) + SPIRIT (enthusiasm, energy) + ED (state). It describes a state where one's spirit has been taken away.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORALE/SPIRIT IS A FLUID/SUBSTANCE (it can be drained, depleted, or lifted).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'dispirited' in the sentence: 'The dispirited workforce produced lacklustre results.'?