despond

de·spond  (d-spnd)

intr.v. de·spond·ed, de·spond·ing, de·sponds

To become disheartened or discouraged.

n.

Despondency: "The outward show of fight masked a spreading inner despond at the White House" (Newsweek).

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[Latin dspondre, to give up : d-, de- + spondre, to promise; see spend- in Indo-European roots.]

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de·sponding·ly adv.

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

despond - lose confidence or hope; become dejected; "The supporters of the Presidential candidate desponded when they learned the early results of the election" despair - abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart; "Don't despair--help is on the way!"