What does disconsolate mean?
Word: Disconsolate
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Disconsolate means so sad and let down that nothing can cheer you up.
Synonyms: inconsolable, downhearted
How do you spell disconsolate?
Syllables: dis - con - so - late
Tricky part: The last beat is said weakly, more like lit than late, so pupils often write disconsolit. The written ending is ate all the same.
Watch out for: disconsolit, disconsolet
Memory tip: Picture someone so unhappy that nothing tasted good and they barely ate. Those three letters finish the word.
Disconsolate in a sentence
Example 1: Aman looked disconsolate when the rain stopped the match just before his innings.
Example 2: Our disconsolate puppy waited by the door all morning for the children to come home.
Example 3: The disconsolate fans walked slowly out of the stadium in the drizzle.
Fun Fact
The word reached English in the late Middle Ages through medieval Latin, where it described a person who could not be comforted.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word disconsolate as used in the sentence:
Priya's disconsolate little brother sat on the step after his kite flew away over the river.
a) forlorn
b) elated
c) crestfallen
d) heartbroken
Show answer
b) elated. Elated means overjoyed; the other three words describe the same sad boy.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
d_sc_nsolate
a) i, o
b) i, a
c) e, o
d) e, a
Show answer
a) i, o. The opening is the common dis, and the next vowel is the short o of cot.
Word Cookie
One word in this sentence is misspelt. Find it:
The young swimmer sat disconsalate on the poolside bench, although her coach kept telling her that a silver medal was a fine result.
a) poolside
b) swimmer
c) silver
d) disconsalate
Show answer
d) disconsalate. The vowel after the second s is o, not a.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. gregareous 2. disconsolate 3. fastideous 4. vigilent
a) unable to be comforted
b) fond of company and friendly
c) very fussy about small details
d) keeping a careful watch
Show answer
a) unable to be comforted. Vigilant ends in ant, while gregarious and fastidious both end in ious.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which detail in a story would best show that a character feels this way?
a) sitting alone, turning away every kind word
b) planning a birthday surprise for a sister
c) racing friends to the school gate
d) humming happily while tidying the room
Show answer
a) sitting alone, turning away every kind word
2. What would friends of such a person find hardest?
a) keeping up with them on a walk
b) raising a smile from them
c) stopping them from chattering
d) calming down their excitement
Show answer
b) raising a smile from them
