to despond
1
9.6
To lose hope or confidence
- verb
- /dɪˈspɒnd/
:
desanimarse
- After losing the match, he began to despond about his future in the team.
Examples
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"...has provided for her freer "and less desponding spirits..."
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"...less desponding free spirits, is in her prisons..."
-
Tumultuous; where my wrecked, desponding thought.
Academic text (2016) -
She tried not to despond after receiving the bad news, reminding herself that things could improve.
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In difficult times, it's easy to despond, but staying positive can lead to better outcomes.
Synonyms
to despair
vsto despond
34
4.1
To lose all hope
loses hope less completely and shows discouragement rather than total hopelessness
to feel down
vsto despond
23
3.0
Be sad or unhappy
includes loss of confidence or hope not merely sadness or low mood
Compounds
Surface Forms
despond infinitive
desponded past
desponded past participle
desponding present participle
desponds third person singular
Etymology
Despond comes from the Latin parts de- 'down' and spondere 'to promise', so it paints a picture of promises or hope sinking down; that's why to despond is to lose confidence or hope.