Which word refers to a state beyond consolation, often described as very sad and cheerless?

The term that refers to a state beyond consolation, characterized by deep sadness and a feeling of hopelessness, is "disconsolate." This word specifically conveys an emotional state where a person feels unable to be consoled or comforted, often resulting in a profound sense of melancholy. It encompasses not just sadness, but an overwhelming feeling of despair that is difficult to alleviate.

While "despondent" also refers to a state of hopelessness and sadness, it is more focused on a feeling of loss of hope that can still allow for some consolation. "Desolate" describes a place or state that is empty and barren, often used metaphorically to describe emotional states but does not carry the same implication of being beyond consolation as "disconsolate." "Discomfort," on the other hand, generally refers to physical unease or emotional unease without the deeper, more profound connotations of sorrow that "disconsolate" carries.