What does dispirited mean?
Dispirited is an adjective describing someone who has lost hope, enthusiasm, or morale — a person who feels dejected, discouraged, and drained of the energy that optimism provides. The word derives from the verb "dispirit," formed by adding the negative prefix "dis-" to "spirit," so to be dispirited is literally to have one's spirits taken away. It is most often applied to people and groups: dispirited employees after a round of layoffs, dispirited supporters watching their team lose yet again, or dispirited voters after a disappointing election. The tone is somewhat formal, appearing frequently in journalism and literary writing, and it implies a gradual wearing-down rather than an acute moment of sorrow. Common near-synonyms include dejected, downcast, and demoralized, though each shades the emotion differently. Because it captures a specific, recognizable emotional state — the quiet flatness of lost motivation — dispirited remains a precise and useful addition to any vocabulary.
adjectiveFeeling or showing a loss of hope, enthusiasm, or cheerfulness; dejected and discouraged.
- Having lost hope, enthusiasm, or morale; feeling dejected and discouraged.
"The team trudged off the pitch, dispirited after their third consecutive defeat."
"After months of rejected applications, she grew dispirited and stopped checking her email."
"The coach's harsh criticism left the young players looking visibly dispirited."
To be dispirited is literally to have had your 'spirit' taken away — the word preserves the old Latin sense of spiritus as the breath of life that can be sapped from you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dispirited
Dispirited comes from the verb "dispirit," formed in English by combining the prefix "dis-" with "spirit," which itself traces back through Old French and Latin spiritus, meaning "breath" or "breath of life." The verb arose around the early 17th century, when writers used it to mean depriving someone of courage or animation. It shares this Latin root with a broad family of words including inspire, conspire, and respiration, all of which preserve the ancient association between breath and inner vitality.
Related word forms
How dispirited is actually used
Dispirited is a moderately formal adjective common in journalism and literary prose. It typically describes people or groups (teams, crowds, staff) rather than objects, and carries a connotation of weariness that has set in over time rather than sudden grief.
Easily confused with dispirited
"Dispirited" means dejected or lacking in spirit, while "disparate" means essentially different or unequal in kind.