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
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Off the record, Harris conveyed her deep despair at the scale of atrocity in Gaza.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
While those legendary spreads may be harder to come by these days, don't despair.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despair
Noun
The seduction of despair can be intense, whether on the personal or the political level.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Off the record, Harris conveyed her deep despair at the scale of atrocity in Gaza.
—Ta-Nehisi Coates, Vanity Fair, 15 June 2026
Verb
In Osamu Dazai’s The Setting Sun, Kazuko despairs of the pain that her brother Naoji’s drug addiction and degenerate behavior have caused the family.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
While those legendary spreads may be harder to come by these days, don't despair.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
-
Electing Talarico would be like connecting on one of those last-second, desperation, alley-oop passes in the end zone.—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
20 June 2026
-
This match finally picked up in the second half, reflecting the desperation each side had after losing their opening matches.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
This escalates into a dragon chase and Aemond’s giant, ancient beast is overcome with bloodlust, killing Luke and his dragon much to the dismay of Aemond One-Eye.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
-
The iconic toys from the series – Woody, Buzz Lightyear, the Potato Heads, Forky and Slinky Dog – then watch in dismay as Bonnie casts them all aside in favor of the bright tablet screen.—
Aarushi Bhandari,
The Conversation,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
The focus here is not on withholding information, but on safeguarding the dignity of a child and allowing a grieving family the space and privacy to heal.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
-
This country is grieving too many senseless and violent deaths and shootings.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
Fear, joy, surprise, sadness, excitement.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
18 June 2026
-
Exceeding expectations As a trip set mainly in concentration camps, sadness is often the top expectation.—
Jessica Tzikas,
Sun Sentinel,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
The bigger risk, according to the research, is the discouragement that leads people to stop trying entirely.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 13,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
-
However, according to our survey, nearly 80% of employees don't go through any kind of accommodation request process, stating concerns about retaliation or active discouragement from leadership.—
Seth Turner,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The shooting unfolded on the afternoon of June 16 at ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital, where officers responding to reports of a shooting, and later found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
Between 2015 and 2024, 332 people were killed on sacramento streets and more than 1,300 others suffered serious injuries.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
There were scandals and heartbreak and dysfunction and, worst of all, a hopelessness.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
14 June 2026
-
That essay, written in 1940 — the same year Native Son was published — is suffused with profound hopelessness for what was indeed to come.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
As Hinkley’s family and fiancée mourn the loss of a young man who still had his entire future ahead of him, prosecutors emphasized the scrutiny applied when criminal allegations involve an on-duty law enforcement officer.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
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The burning of Notre-Dame reminded humanity how to mourn a tragedy.—
Andy J. Semotiuk,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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