Finesentence

Dispirited Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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dispirited

dispir-it-ed

🇺🇸 /dɪˈspɪɹətɪd/ · 🇬🇧 /dɪspˈɪɹɪtɪd/

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

emotional state

Dispirited describes a state of being disheartened or lacking in confidence. It often refers to feelings of disappointment or sadness that arise from unfavorable circumstances or discouragement.

Synonyms

dejected, disappointed, disheartened, downcast, gloomy.

Examples of usage

  • She felt dispirited after failing the exam.
  • The team's dispirited performance led to their loss.
  • After hearing the bad news, he became dispirited and withdrew from social events.

Translations

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Quick facts about “dispirited”

Dispirited is a 3-syllable adjective (dispir-it-ed). It is pronounced /dɪˈspɪɹətɪd/ in American English and /dɪspˈɪɹɪtɪd/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 1 meaning, 5 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #25,660 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'dispirited'

The word 'dispirited' has its roots in the early 17th century, deriving from the combination of the prefix 'dis-' meaning 'apart' or 'away' and the word 'spirit' which comes from the Latin 'spiritus' meaning 'breath' or 'soul.' Initially, 'spirit' referred to the vital principle or animating force of a living being. Thus, 'dispirited' conveys the sense of being stripped of enthusiasm or morale. In literature, it has evolved to describe a person whose spirit has been diminished due to a particular negative experience or state of mind. The increase in usage during the 19th century reflected broader societal concerns regarding mental health and emotional well-being, with the term appearing in various literary and psychological contexts. Today, 'dispirited' is commonly used to describe emotional states characterized by a loss of motivation, hope, or confidence.

Rhymes

Dispirited rhymes with low-spirited.

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Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,660, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.