despair
loss of hope; hopelessness.
someone or something that causes hopelessness: He is the despair of his mother.
to lose, give up, or be without hope (often followed by of): to despair of humanity.
Obsolete. to give up hope of.
Origin of despair
1synonym study For despair
Other words for despair
Opposites for despair
Other words from despair
- de·spair·er, noun
- self-de·spair, noun
- un·de·spaired, adjective
Words Nearby despair
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use despair in a sentence
The concertina wire marking the edge of his homeland triggers Vanishvili’s border cells to fire every time he sees it, and in turn, that firing may trigger the despair associated with that place.
How border walls trick the human brain and psyche | Jessica Wapner | October 2, 2020 | Popular-ScienceIn the first movement of his Fifth Symphony, Beethoven set up a battle between hope and despair.
Beethoven’s 5th Symphony is a lesson in finding hope in adversity | Charlie Harding | September 11, 2020 | VoxIt’s my job, I’ve begun to think, to make sure that people in this “climate generation” don’t get swallowed up in an ocean of despair.
Generation Z is ‘traumatized’ by climate change—and they’re the key to fighting it | matthewheimer | August 19, 2020 | FortuneThis discrepancy can create a feeling of despair when it comes to online reputation management, but this only means that you need to become more proactive about getting reviews from your customers.
Online reputation management: Seven steps to success | Aleh Barysevich | June 3, 2020 | Search Engine WatchAmerica enters the final months of the 2020 campaign in a state of despair and disrepair.
“Light trumps darkness, hope beats despair, grace wins over sin, love defeats hate, life conquers death,” the cardinal said.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops | Michael Daly | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThree months of despair were ignited in suburban Missouri when officer Darren Wilson was told he would walk free.
It may be nothing other than anger and despair, at this point.
Ferguson Protesters Harass Black Police, Call for Darren Wilson’s Death | Justin Glawe | November 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI highly doubt that anyone not already in a state of despair would look to war as an antidote to Godlessness.
Future urbanization does not need to pose a choice between rural hopelessness and urban despair.
Davy read this over two or three times, in the greatest perplexity, and then gave it up in despair.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylPrud'hon, in humiliation and despair, lived in a solitude almost complete.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D. | Clara Erskine ClementThe falling dew, and the howling wind raised him not from that bed of lonely despair.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterBut the '34 port was so good that he revoked twice, to the indignation and despair of his unhappy brother and partner.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsAs they got lower and lower down the hill, her wretchedness and disquiet became acute, to the point of a wild despair.
Hilda Lessways | Arnold Bennett
British Dictionary definitions for despair
/ (dɪˈspɛə) /
(intr often foll by of) to lose or give up hope: I despair of his coming
(tr) obsolete to give up hope of; lose hope in
total loss of hope
a person or thing that causes hopelessness or for which there is no hope
Origin of despair
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse