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
The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Winter is coming, and with it, the risk of disease, displacement, and despair.
—Faisal J. Abbas, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
While the first Korean drop vanished instantly, U.S. fans don’t have to despair.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Noun
The thing to do then is not to throw your hands up in despair, but to analyze what has gone wrong, and fix it.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Winter is coming, and with it, the risk of disease, displacement, and despair.
—Faisal J. Abbas, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
But other costs have added to despair: the relative prices of housing, healthcare, and student debt have risen.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
While the first Korean drop vanished instantly, U.S. fans don’t have to despair.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
-
Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing are already in celebration mode with locks into the final four, while Team Penske and Hendrick Motorsports are in full desperation mode heading into the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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In particular, Van Sant’s direction is at once intimate and explosive, framing the chaos with empathy, allowing the audience to feel the pulse of desperation behind every decision.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Unfortunate outcast kids Lilly (Clara Stack), Ronnie (Amanda Christine), Phil (Jack Molloy Legault) and Terry (Mikkal Karim Fidler) are at the center of the mysterious disappearances and the supernatural horrors, to their very poor luck and dismay of the adults in their lives.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
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Factory owners expressed their dismay on social media, noting that while workplace safety had improved significantly over the past decade, unregulated factories remained vulnerable.—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Season 2, which wrapped at the end of 2024, ended with Jimmy taking a major step forward in his grieving process.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Now, her parents are grieving the loss of their daughter.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Regarding the Armani company, Nicolas Hieronimus, chief executive officer of L’Oréal, during a call Tuesday evening with analysts and journalists to discuss third-quarter and nine-months results reiterated sadness in the passing of Giorgio Armani, with whom the group collaborated for 40 years.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Keep in mind, sadness may not be the only emotion kids show.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The gradual combination of these skills helps students avoid most crashes in the long term, leading to less discouragement and frustration.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
So feelings of self-doubt, frustration, and discouragement start to kick in.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Authorities then discovered De Silva suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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That is, some of the properties suffered damage during the war, but others were destroyed because the owners left the country during the conflict.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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These could include feelings of overwhelming sadness (despondence), a sense that life will never get better (hopelessness) or actual thoughts of killing themselves.—
Dr. Theresa T. Nguyen,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
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Like regular depression, SAD can cause negative feelings like hopelessness, worthlessness, irritability, and guilt; fatigue or reduced energy; a loss of interest in hobbies and activities; and even physical aches and pains (including headaches, cramps, and digestive problems).—
Maggie O'Neill,
SELF,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The family is mourning and focused also on driving this business.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Fallon is the second late-night host this year to publicly mourn the loss of a beloved pet.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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