Disheartenment: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'disheartenment' when describing a general feeling of losing hope or confidence, often after a series of negative events.

• After failing the exam for the third time, a sense of disheartenment settled over her.
• The team's continuous losses led to disheartenment among the players.

Use 'discouragement' when someone loses enthusiasm or confidence to continue with a task, often after encountering obstacles.

• Facing repeated failures, he felt a sense of discouragement that made him want to quit.
• Despite initial discouragement, she decided to keep trying until she succeeded.

Use 'disappointment' to describe a feeling of sadness or dissatisfaction when things do not go as expected or someone fails to meet expectations.

• She felt a wave of disappointment when she didn't get the promotion she had worked so hard for.
• The children's faces showed their disappointment when the trip was canceled due to rain.

Use 'despondency' when referring to a deep state of hopelessness or gloom, usually lasting for a longer period and having a more severe emotional impact.

• He fell into despondency after losing his job and his relationship in the same week.
• Her despondency was evident as she struggled to find motivation in her daily tasks.

Use 'dismay' when describing a sudden or intense feeling of shock, worry, or fear, often caused by something unexpected and unpleasant.

• She watched in dismay as the storm destroyed her garden.
• His dismay was apparent when he learned about the sudden policy changes.

Disheartenment is used to describe a temporary feeling of disappointment or loss of motivation, often in response to a setback or failure.

• After failing the exam, she felt a sense of disheartenment, but her friends quickly cheered her up

Demoralization describes the process or state of losing confidence, morale, or hope, often after prolonged hardship or discouragement.

• Constant criticism from her boss resulted in her complete demoralization

Dejection refers to a deeper, more sustained feeling of sadness or low spirits, often due to a significant disappointment or ongoing struggle.

• Months of job searching without success left him in a state of dejection

Despair reflects a profound and intense feeling of hopelessness, often accompanied by the belief that a situation is beyond any positive resolution.

• After the loss of his loved one, he fell into deep despair

Hopelessness is a chronic feeling that there's no chance for a positive outcome or improvement, often linked to depression or long-term struggles.

• The endless war led to a sense of hopelessness among the civilians