dejection
Heavy-hearted state
Dejection is a state of low spirits or sadness, typically from disappointment or discouragement.
It suggests a heavier, more prolonged gloom than simple sadness—spirits that have sunk and settled: His dejection after losing the election lasted for weeks.
The word carries a somewhat literary or formal tone.
Profound loss of hope
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- gloomPervasive dimness or dejection
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- sadnessState of emotional pain
downheartedness · low spirits · heavyheartedness · unhappiness · dispiritedness · cheerlessness · joylessness · desolation
Lost confidence or hope
- crestfallenSad from disappointment
- downcastSad or despondent
- dispiritedHaving lost heart
- demoralizedStripped of confidence
dismayed · disappointed · deflated · crushed · defeated · broken · resigned · pessimistic
Showing or feeling grief
- dolefulExpressing deep sorrow
- woefulExtremely sad or pitiful
- woebegoneOvercome by grief
- glumQuietly dejected
morose · sullen · somber · brooding · pensive · lugubrious · hangdog · long-faced
Prolonged low state
- clinical depressionPsychiatric condition of prolonged despair
- dysthymiaChronic low-grade melancholy
- anhedoniaInability to feel enjoyment
- depressive episodeSustained period of clinical melancholy
mood disorder · lethargy · fatigue · insomnia
despondency
Profound loss of hope
- melancholySubdued, lasting sadness
- gloomPervasive dimness or dejection
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
sadness · downheartedness · low spirits · heavyheartedness · unhappiness · dispiritedness · cheerlessness · joylessness · desolation · wretchedness
disheartened
Lost confidence or hope
- crestfallenSad from disappointment
- downcastSad or despondent
- dispiritedHaving lost heart
demoralized · dismayed · disappointed · deflated · crushed · defeated · broken · resigned · pessimistic · hopeless
mournful
Showing or feeling grief
glum · morose · sullen · somber · brooding · pensive · lugubrious · hangdog · long-faced · downturned
depression
Prolonged low state
- clinical depressionPsychiatric condition of prolonged despair
- dysthymiaChronic low-grade melancholy
- anhedoniaInability to feel enjoyment
depressive episode · mood disorder · lethargy · fatigue · insomnia
- feelingsemotion, feeling, pleasure, joy, anger
- bad feelingssadness, anger, fear, grief, sorrow
- despairdespair, hopelessness, desolation, despondency, anguish
- humeurjoy, sadness, anger, fear, mood
- letdownsletdown, disappointment, anticlimax, dud, flop
- melancholysadness, sorrow, gloom, woe, wistfulness
dejectionelation
Intense triumphant joy
joy · jubilation · euphoria · ecstasy · happiness
dejectionhigh spirits
Lively, cheerful state
elation · buoyancy · uplift · exuberance · vivacity