despair

American  

[dih-spair] / dɪˈspɛər /

noun

1. loss of hope; hopelessness.

   Synonyms:

   disheartenment, gloom

   Antonyms:

   hope

2. someone or something that causes hopelessness.

   He is the despair of his mother.

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verb (used without object)

1. to lose, give up, or be without hope (often followed byof ).

   to despair of humanity.

verb (used with object)

1. Obsolete. to give up hope of.

despair British  

/ dɪˈspɛə /

verb

1. to lose or give up hope

   I despair of his coming

2. obsolete (tr) to give up hope of; lose hope in

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noun

1. total loss of hope

2. a person or thing that causes hopelessness or for which there is no hope

Usage

What does despair mean? To despair is to lose all hope. Despair can also be used as a noun meaning complete hopelessness. Despair usually involves deep sadness and emotional pain about something that has happened or that hasn’t happened—something usually triggers the despair. This is especially the case in serious and very negative situations that involve finality, such as death or a devastating loss in a political election. The verb despair implies that one is giving up—that they believe there is nothing more to be done to make things better. When someone says, “Don’t despair,” they’re telling you not to lose hope—to keep trying or to believe that things can improve. When used as a verb, despair is sometimes followed by the word of and the thing for which hope has been lost, as in I have despaired of her ever coming back. Much less commonly, despair can be used as a noun referring to someone or something that causes despair, as in He is the despair of the nation. The word despairing can be used as an adjective to describe people who are experiencing despair or things that involve despair, as in a despairing look. Example: He was filled with despair at the sight of the scoreboard, which showed an insurmountable lead with only minutes left.

Related Words

Despair, desperation, despondency, discouragement, hopelessness refer to a state of mind caused by circumstances that seem too much to cope with. Despair suggests total loss of hope, which may be passive or may drive one to furious efforts, even if at random: in the depths of despair; courage born of despair. Desperation is usually an active state, the abandonment of hope impelling to a furious struggle against adverse circumstances, with utter disregard of consequences: an act of desperation when everything else had failed. Despondency is a state of deep gloom and disheartenment: a spell of despondency. Discouragement is a loss of courage, hope, and ambition because of obstacles, frustrations, etc.: His optimism yielded to discouragement. Hopelessness is a loss of hope so complete as to result in a more or less permanent state of passive despair: a state of hopelessness and apathy.

Other Word Forms

• despairer noun
• self-despair noun
• undespaired adjective

Etymology

Origin of despair

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English despeir (noun), despeiren (verb), from Anglo-French despeir, Old French despoir (noun), desperer (verb), from Latin dēspērāre “to be without hope,” from dē- de- + spērāre “to hope” (derivative of spēs “hope”)

Explanation

Despair is the feeling of not having any hope left. If you completely forgot to study for your final exam in math, you might feel despair when your teacher passes out the test. Despair can also refer to someone or something that causes you to worry or be sad. Unfortunately, some children are the despair of their parents. The verb despair means to lose hope. Despair is from Latin desperare "to be without hope," from the prefix de- "without" plus sperare "to hope," from spes "hope."

Example Sentences

"I lived between despair and hope that my daughter might still be alive," she explained.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

That convergence of feelings made me wonder: What kind of girl would write letters to former flames, not out of love, but out of despair?

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

You have avoided great depths of despair and panic, and even greater heights of self-congratulation and ecstasy.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026

The title notwithstanding, this is Dejanira’s story, and mezzo Ann Hallenberg had the attitude but ultimately not enough vocal heft to fully express her fury and despair.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

One person spreading pessimax can easily plunge a dozen acquaintances into despair.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• anguish
• desperation
• despondency
• discouragement
• gloom
• melancholy
• misery
• pain
• sorrow