1
as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the endless drought drove the farmers to despair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dismay
the state of being discouraged
the other team's temporary lead caused some momentary despair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to grieve
to lose all hope or confidence
we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despair
Thomas Smith, Billboard, 15 Apr. 2025
Minnie was summoned more than once to her daughter’s bedside to say goodbye, but, in 1915, a different voice rescued McPherson from death and despair.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Families of children with disabilities have despaired over what could come of the federal department's work protecting their rights.
—TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Noun
In the final scene of episode four, Graham’s character heads to his son’s bedroom and breaks down in tears full of sorrow, rage and despair.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 15 Apr. 2025
Minnie was summoned more than once to her daughter’s bedside to say goodbye, but, in 1915, a different voice rescued McPherson from death and despair.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
Pride will be hurting, but Brazil shouldn’t despair too much.
—Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Families of children with disabilities have despaired over what could come of the federal department's work protecting their rights.
—TIME, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
-
Too many business owners negotiate from a place of desperation.—
Lien De Pau,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
The Browns or the Giants may feel the itch of desperation and draft Sanders in the top three.—
Derrik Klassen,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Much to his dismay, though, the Elimination Challenge is to create a tasting menu based on pickles — a food Tristen apparently loathes.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
-
To June's dismay, her best friend is also determined to stay back and fight.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Scammers have been known to impersonate the deceased to exploit grieving friends and family.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Out West in Colorado, mourners grieved not only the passing of a spiritual guide but for a leader who was deeply engaged with the world's most urgent issues.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Economic cooling, policy discouragement of conspicuous consumption, and a younger generation’s shifting priorities have combined to erode growth assumptions.—
Kate Hardcastle,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
-
There is also time delays and administrative inconvenience and burden at each step that creates more obstacles and discouragement to voting.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries battling a blaze at a single-family home in West Hartford on Tuesday evening.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Unfortunately, that didn't lead to the team's ultimate goal of a Super Bowl, though, and the team suffered another sooner-than-expected playoff exit.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Pope Francis' funeral will see President Donald Trump and other world leaders converge on Rome as the Catholic Church mourns the head of the Holy See.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Under the blasting sun, mourners prayed, celebrated, and mourned the life of the late pope.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
And then, to forever live on earth, in a place with conflict and pain and sorrow, that’s not her goal.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2025
-
In churches like this, where belief is expressed in multiple languages, the loss of a pope is a death in the family, and the sorrow, like the faith, runs deep.—
Janet Shamlian,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Eleven people were killed and at least 20 more hurt in a , police said Sunday.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Self-righteousness shrouds our refusal to let hurt fade from recall.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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