despair 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈsper How to pronounce despair (audio)
Definition of despairnext
1
as in desperation
utter loss of hope the endless drought drove the farmers to despair

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2
as in dismay
the state of being discouraged the other team's temporary lead caused some momentary despair

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

despair

2 of 2

verb

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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of despair
Noun
The elderly doctor had taken Marisa’s pulse and ordered for her to be put in a car and taken home; there was no cure for despair. — Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 There’s a lot going on — clearly too much to pronounce any of Tolkien’s placenames correctly, so just let go of that now, nerds, lest ye despair. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
And if the waitlist gets outrageous, don’t despair—there are many ways to slurp in Tomales Bay. — Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026 There won’t be a Knicks game this Sunday, but people looking to watch something full of New York pride should not despair. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
  1. desperation
  2. dismay
  3. grieve
  4. sadness
  5. discouragement
  6. suffer
  7. hopelessness
  8. mourn
Noun
  • In desperation, Shraddha took her to another hospital with lower fees.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Later in the film, after the separation of the father from the rest of the family, the color red comes to signify a sense of desperation.
    — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of desperation
Noun
  • Locals sought to protect the land, which had long housed a storied artist residency program, from development, but in the end the foundation sold it to the South Seas resort for $45 million, to the dismay of many.
    — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • We’re filled with dismay at the hard left turn the Democratic Party has been taking in this primary season, and El-Sayed’s narrow win is still a win.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of dismay
Verb
  • Now, 47 years later, Levasseur is grieving the family dream coming to an end.
    — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The family grieved quietly, rarely speaking to one another about what happened, Phan said.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of grieve
Noun
  • The researchers also detected differences in the brain activity associated with faces showing fear versus anger or sadness.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Gastélum’s last posts on Instagram and TikTok have thousands of comments ranging from sadness to disbelief.
    — Rey Rodríguez, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of sadness
Noun
  • Despite the feeling of discouragement that can come with the rejections and even ghostings applicants face, these internships — though sometimes few and far between — still exist.
    — Cami Fateh, Vogue, 15 July 2026
  • Opposition, discouragement, and doubt surrounded the effort to rebuild.
    — Liesl Ehmke, Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2026
Definition of discouragement
Verb
  • Three had suffered burns, one seriously enough to be hospitalized twice and sent to a burn center after the injury was initially waved off as minor.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Wiroon Supasingsiripreecha, head of the institute, said most of the victims suffered a single fatal gunshot wound to a vital area, including the chest or head.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of suffer
Noun
  • But in recent months and years, a sense of hopelessness has increasingly gripped those still remaining on the island.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • With the current political climate, Love sees the hopelessness in the world and took it upon herself to create room for people to be a part of a community that desires to curate a safe space.
    — Zuri Primos July 27, Kansas City Star, 27 July 2026
Definition of hopelessness
Verb
  • Those closest to Mazur are now mourning much more than an accomplished musician.
    — Naveen Dhaliwal, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Li, 24, wasn't the only left mourning the loss of a virtual companion when major Chinese tech companies recently pulled the plug on their popular AI companion services to comply with new government restrictions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of mourn

Browse Nearby Words

desolations
despair
despaired
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Cite this Entry

“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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