despair
Americannoun
-
loss of hope; hopelessness.
- Synonyms:
- disheartenment, gloom
- Antonyms:
- hope
-
someone or something that causes hopelessness.
He is the despair of his mother.
verb (used without object)
-
despairs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
despaired,
past participle, past
-
despairing
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
despairs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
despaired,
past participle, past
-
despairing
present participle
verb
-
to lose or give up hope
I despair of his coming
-
obsolete (tr) to give up hope of; lose hope in
noun
-
total loss of hope
-
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.
Synonym Usage
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
despairsimple
-
despairssimple
-
have despairedperfect
-
has despairedperfect
-
am despairingprogressive
-
are despairingprogressive
-
is despairingprogressive
-
have been despairingperfect progressive
-
has been despairingperfect progressive
Past
-
despairedsimple
-
had despairedperfect
-
was despairingprogressive
-
were despairingprogressive
-
had been despairingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing despair
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Unlike bear-market bottoms, which typically end with a spasm of despair as traders throw in the towel, bull-market tops are far more gradual and less dramatic.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
She said she used to work in these deprived northern suburbs, where poverty and crime rates are very high, and feared a whole lost generation was criminalising itself through anger and despair.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Both said that the scandal dominating the headlines and the loss of their dream jobs sent them into the depths of despair.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
"It's absolutely heartbreaking. It really is emotionally devastating, because it's utter despair: no more lake," said amateur local historian David Favre, who lives in the Swiss village of Les Brenets.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
It was a shriek of terror and of despair, so loud and anguished it froze Christopher’s body.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
Now 27, she despairs when hearing another Cornell president talk about reforming the Greek system.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
When her TV show is canceled, the actress does what you might predict given the movie’s exaggerated look and tone: She despairs at what she sees in the mirror and reaches for an outrageous solution.
From New York Times ● May 24, 2024
Kakar despairs at the plight of Afghans who remain in Pakistan.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 28, 2024
She badgers LB to get a job and despairs when her stubborn daughter holds out for meaningful work rather than going to Scranton, Pa., to work in collections.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2023
Another story: the emperor despairs of Ending a horse able to run a thousand li.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
Things became "very difficult indeed" in the marriage early on, Earl Spencer writes, adding that he is "sure that both spouses despaired of the other at times".
From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026
Still, he kept laboring toward a perfection he didn’t always reach but never despaired of reaching.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
But closer to the high-security perimeter, a crowd of worshippers despaired as police officers blocked their route.
From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026
As Aduba ran through scenes in which Chisholm triumphantly campaigned or despaired at the obstacles to her success, “You could hear a pin drop,” Blanchett said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2025
Hearing the news in Washington, Conant despaired of obtaining so much bomb material out of Oak Ridge by any method.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Despite facing notable challenges and coming of age in a culture infected by “big woe,” or an onslaught of despairing information, Moore believes there is still reason for young people to be optimistic.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
As wars multiply, Pope Leo’s aides aren’t despairing about the possibilities of diplomacy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 2026
“Especially in despairing economic times we need to ensure people aren’t being denied access.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
This was Spurs in microcosm with mistake piled upon mistake – the self-destruct button pressed with despairing regularity.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026
What does he want of me this time? he thought, despairing.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
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