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
Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Cohen said counterintelligence operations throughout history have targeted disgruntled federal employees who are left in despair and with no way to pay off their expenses and debts.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2025
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024
The Willowbrook’s ambience encouraged senior citizens who had been widowed or divorced not to despair.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Noun
The first Trump Administration didn’t deliver many material gains to the rural poor—deaths of despair continued to rise, and wages continued to stagnate—but at least Trump spoke to their anguish and seemed outraged on their behalf.
—Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Cohen said counterintelligence operations throughout history have targeted disgruntled federal employees who are left in despair and with no way to pay off their expenses and debts.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
But don't despair, because new growth can appear at ground level in the spring.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024
The Willowbrook’s ambience encouraged senior citizens who had been widowed or divorced not to despair.
—Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
-
Their primary motivation for entering tentative talks over Gomez was desperation, due to their need to comply with the Premier League’s PSR by June 30.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Butler missed a desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer as the Wolves lost, 114-113.—
Zach Harper,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The news quickly sent shockwaves through Washington, where officials and intelligence experts reacted with dismay and disbelief.—
Lex Harvey and Alex Stambaugh,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2025
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Supporters of former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu took to the streets to voice their dismay after Bucharest's central election authority barred the far-right candidate from running in May's presidential election re-run.—
Kevin Sabet,
Newsweek,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Not just consuming but diving in, getting outraged, grieving, swooning.—
Leila Herrmann,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2025
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Bravo’s grieving family were further frustrated by the California Highway Patrol’s decision not to issue an Amber Alert — the statewide alert activated by authorities to help find missing children — after Lee and the children disappeared.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Feedback can create defensiveness and discouragement.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
-
Without immediate results, frustration and discouragement creep up, prompting people to quit.—
Jane Hanson,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Americans who use the stock market to save for retirement and college suffered days of angst.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
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Affirm, which specializes in allowing consumers to buy now and pay later, could suffer if consumers pull back spending when the pause is lifted as a result of tariffs causing prices to rise.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The father of Lucas Osuna, a Belen Jesuit Preparatory School student who died at a water polo tournament Friday, mourned his son on a double post to Instagram and Facebook.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2025
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The shrubs also host the larvae of 18 kinds of butterflies and moths, including eastern tiger swallowtail and mourning cloak butterflies.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
His eyes filled with sorrow as his mom gave Lola all the attention.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Emotions and sorrow were palpable even though Prine has been dead for nearly five years.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Trump's most expansive tariffs to date and larger than most experts expected ‒ could further hurt a weakening economy, send the stock market plummeting and even lead to a recession.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2025
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Republicans at the Capitol understand this is going to hurt not just Americans, but their own political futures.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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