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Glite Dictionary
in low spirits

in low spirits

3.9
Feeling sad and without energy
  • idiom
translation icon : deprimido
  • The man explained that this was impossible, and his reply left the prisoner in low spirits for several days.

Examples

  • She remained in low spirits for some weeks, contemplating the dismal present.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • After receiving the disappointing news, he was in low spirits throughout the day.

  • She felt in low spirits because her favorite team had lost the match.

  • The gloomy weather left everyone in low spirits as they walked to work.

Synonyms

depressed
vsin low spirits
441 3.5

Feeling very sad and without hope

is milder and may involve reduced energy without clinical severity
low
vsin low spirits
336 1.0

Feeling sad or without energy

is the phrase focused on sadness and lack of enthusiasm or energy
melancholy
vsin low spirits
37 5.9

Feeling or showing deep sadness

is usually less deep and more about short term unhappy feeling
gloomy
vsin low spirits
29 2.5

Feeling sad and without much hope

is often subtler and can mean simple unhappiness without deep sorrow
down
vsin low spirits
  • Informal
24 6.7

Feeling sad or unhappy

is the neutral expression for sadness used in wider contexts
glum
vsin low spirits
23 4.1

Looking or feeling sad and quiet

is a broader feeling of sadness that may not show outwardly
despondent
vsin low spirits
18 7.7

Feeling very sad and without hope about the future

is more general and can be less about losing hope entirely
mopey
vsin low spirits
8 4.4

Feeling sad and quiet without much energy

is similar but usually implies sulky or petulant behaviour rather than general sadness
downbeat
vsin low spirits
8 4.4

Feeling sad and not very hopeful

is a more general phrase for feeling sad or without energy
discouraged
vsin low spirits
7 3.4

Feeling less confident and hopeful because of problems

is broader and can happen without a specific setback causing it
down in the dumps
vsin low spirits
  • Informal
5 5.8

Feeling sad and low

is a general descriptive phrase not limited to casual or idiomatic speech
dejected
vsin low spirits
5 4.5

Feeling very sad and not hopeful

is usually less intense and can include simple tiredness or flat mood
disheartened
vsin low spirits
5 4.2

Feeling less hopeful and confident after a disappointment

is more general and can describe mild sadness without specific causes
dispirited
vsin low spirits
5 5.4

Feeling sad and without hope

is the ordinary term for sadness whether caused by events or not
downcast
vsin low spirits
3 4.7

Feeling sad and without much hope

is more general and can also include reduced energy and less interest
demoralized
vsin low spirits
2 5.2

Feeling sad and lacking confidence to keep trying

is often a broader mood not necessarily caused by failures or loss
downhearted
vsin low spirits
1 4.1

Feeling sad and without much hope

is milder expressing general sadness with reduced energy and interest
spiritless
vsin low spirits
1 6.0

Showing little energy and no enthusiasm

is focused on reduced energy and lack of will rather than sadness
low-spirited
vsin low spirits
1 5.1

Feeling sad and without much energy

is a neutral way to say feeling sad and less active
deflated
vsin low spirits
4.6

Feeling less confident and hopeful after a disappointment

is a broader term for sadness that is not tied to one event
lowish
vsin low spirits
  • Informal
5.4

Feeling a little sad or down

is stronger and refers to clear sadness not just a mild dip

Antonyms

cheerful
111 1.0

Happy in a way you show with a smile or friendly actions

in high spirits
4 3.0

Feeling very happy and full of energy

How Sad

miserable
443 1.8
despondent
18 7.7
in low spirits
3.9
blue
205 2.1
down
  • Informal
24 6.7

Surface Forms

in low spirits positive

Morphology

in + low + spirit

The phrase combines 'in' (a locative/state preposition) with 'low' (downcast) modifying 'spirits' (mood/energy), so the meaning 'feeling sad or lacking enthusiasm' is directly derivable from the constituents. This compositional pattern (low mood) is cross-linguistically common and follows normal English adjective+noun state expression, so a B1 learner who knows the words will readily understand it.

Etymology

In low spirits comes from the simple image of someone's spirits (their mood or energy) being low, as if their energy has gone down. So, it means 'feeling sad or without much energy'.