despondent feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despondent feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of deep sadness or hopelessness that someone is experiencing. Example: "After receiving the disappointing news, she was overwhelmed by a despondent feeling that lingered for days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Nor is the private realm particularly conducive to airing this kind of implacably despondent feeling, no matter how willing your friends are to listen.

The New York Times - Magazine

Maribel Guillet, 36, is all too familiar with that despondent feeling.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the initial weeks after the operation, he was despondent, again feeling that he'd endured more suffering for nothing.

The New Yorker

I require things to do all the time in the city or I start feeling despondent.

The New York Times

Is feeling despondent about it when friend she… Mechanical engineer, inventor of numerous devices for the modern boxing ring.

The New Yorker

Is feeling despondent about it when friend she met in speakeasy night before comes to see her, and invites her to go to AtlanticCity with her.

The New Yorker

She started a bizarre, slurred argument with the waitress who had – fairly – given our table away, and I cut out of there, feeling despondent and very, very sober.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

McIlroy said he usually took the week off after a major, but he especially needed the break this year after feeling "despondent" about missing the cut at the British Open.

The New York Times - Sports

Ali Oncel, 17, a vegetable seller who was arrested after attending a P.K.K.-sponsored demonstration in February and spent about five months in a jail before being released this month, said that prison had left him feeling despondent, isolated and angry.

The New York Times

Created after Ms. Velez-Jackson fractured a toe and was feeling despondent, the solo is a pointed look at failure and success, using the reality television format as a funnel and topping it off with a ballad.

The New York Times - Arts

Joel Greenfield, a trainee electrician aged 23, has driven all the way from Los Angeles to catch the end of the trial and despite such commitment he too is feeling despondent.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add impact, use "despondent feeling" when you want to specifically highlight the emotional experience of despondency, rather than just stating a state of sadness. It emphasizes the subjective experience.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "despondent feeling" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler terms like "feeling down" or "sad" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despondent feeling" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "despondent" modifies the noun "feeling". It describes the kind of feeling someone is experiencing, specifying it as one characterized by profound sadness and hopelessness. According to Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "despondent feeling" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a profound sense of sadness and hopelessness. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English. While not overly common, it effectively emphasizes the subjective emotional experience. It appears primarily in news and media contexts and can be considered neutral to formal in register. When choosing this phrase, consider whether simpler alternatives might better suit the tone of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feeling of despair

Focuses on the complete loss of hope and the intensity of the negative emotion.

sense of hopelessness

Emphasizes the pervasive feeling that nothing positive can occur.

feeling of gloom

Highlights a state of melancholy and pessimism.

melancholy mood

Refers to a prolonged state of sadness, often without a clear cause.

depressed sentiment

Indicates a feeling aligned with clinical depression, but may be milder.

heavy-heartedness

Conveys a sense of emotional burden and sorrow.

dismal outlook

Stresses a pessimistic perspective on the future.

feeling low

A more general term for sadness or lack of energy.

downcast feeling

Implies a lowering of spirits and a sense of disappointment.

bleak feeling

Emphasizes the barren and unpromising nature of the emotional state.

FAQs

How can I use "despondent feeling" in a sentence?

You can use "despondent feeling" to describe a state of deep sadness or hopelessness. For example: "After receiving the disappointing news, she was overwhelmed by a "despondent feeling" that lingered for days."

What can I say instead of "despondent feeling"?

You can use alternatives like "feeling of despair", "sense of hopelessness", or "feeling of gloom" depending on the context.

Is "despondent feeling" a formal or informal phrase?

"Despondent feeling" leans toward the formal side. In casual conversation, phrases like "feeling down" or "bummed out" might be more appropriate.

Which is more appropriate, "despondent feeling" or "feeling despondent"?

Both "despondent feeling" and "feeling despondent" are grammatically correct, but "feeling despondent" is more common. "Despondent feeling" places more emphasis on the emotion as a distinct entity.