1
: utter loss of hope
a cry of despair
gave up in despair
2
: a cause of hopelessness
an incorrigible child is the despair of his parents
despaired; despairing; despairs
: to lose all hope or confidence
despair of winning
obsolete
: to lose hope for
despairer
noun
Examples of despair in a Sentence
Noun
On the occasion of Johnson's tercentenary, Martin (A Life of James Boswell) searches out the psychological elements covered up by Boswell and others: the immense insecurities, bouts of deep depression, corrosive self-doubt and, in his last days, despair for his very soul.
—
Publishers Weekly, 21 July 2008
Players who'd been on the 2004 Olympic team joked about whether their two bronze medals equaled one silver. There was none of the despair or finger-pointing that followed the world championships in '02, when Team USA finished sixth.
—Kelly Anderson, Sports Illustrated, 11 Sept. 2006
The people who try to save endangered species in Hawaii are immune to despair. They have to be, to keep doing what they do.
—Lawrence Downes, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2004
His despair nearly drove him mad.
I was overcome by despair at being unable to find them.
She finally gave up in despair.
The people were driven to despair by the horrors of war.
This latest setback has brought her to the depths of despair.
Verb
It is possible that at this stage Caesar had not altogether despaired of a consensual solution to the difficulties facing the Republic.
—Anthony Everitt, Cicero, (2001) 2003
Sometimes it is hard not to despair about relations between men and women in American society. They seem to have hit rock bottom.
—Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, New Republic, 6 May 2002
Yet, until very recently, Alzheimer's was so poorly understood that scientists despaired of finding a treatment, much less a cure.
—Ken Garber, Technology, March 2001
Things look bad now, but don't despair.
we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project
Publishers Weekly, 21 July 2008
Players who'd been on the 2004 Olympic team joked about whether their two bronze medals equaled one silver. There was none of the despair or finger-pointing that followed the world championships in '02, when Team USA finished sixth.
—Kelly Anderson, Sports Illustrated, 11 Sept. 2006
The people who try to save endangered species in Hawaii are immune to despair. They have to be, to keep doing what they do.
—Lawrence Downes, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2004
His despair nearly drove him mad.
I was overcome by despair at being unable to find them.
She finally gave up in despair.
The people were driven to despair by the horrors of war.
This latest setback has brought her to the depths of despair.
Verb
It is possible that at this stage Caesar had not altogether despaired of a consensual solution to the difficulties facing the Republic.
—Anthony Everitt, Cicero, (2001) 2003
Sometimes it is hard not to despair about relations between men and women in American society. They seem to have hit rock bottom.
—Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, New Republic, 6 May 2002
Yet, until very recently, Alzheimer's was so poorly understood that scientists despaired of finding a treatment, much less a cure.
—Ken Garber, Technology, March 2001
Things look bad now, but don't despair.
we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project
Recent Examples on the Web
Asha Bandele, Essence, 25 June 2025
The best dystopian films are the most plausible ones, and Children Of Men feels all too real, from the political factions to the way humanity both descends into despair and miraculously comes together to help those who need it most.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 27 June 2025
Above all, though in vastly different styles and tones, Booker and Beshear urged Florida Democrats not to despair.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
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Noun
So many of the adults who held our communities together have been lost to mass incarceration, to addictions—diseases of despair—as drugs have replaced jobs and hope in our neighborhoods, often turning them into war zones.
—Asha Bandele, Essence, 25 June 2025
The best dystopian films are the most plausible ones, and Children Of Men feels all too real, from the political factions to the way humanity both descends into despair and miraculously comes together to help those who need it most.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
Verb
Just two months ago, the markets seemed to be in crisis as investors despaired over the effects of President Donald Trump’s sweeping set of tariffs.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 27 June 2025
Above all, though in vastly different styles and tones, Booker and Beshear urged Florida Democrats not to despair.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despair. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
despair
1 of 2 verb
de·spair
di-ˈspa(ə)r 
-ˈspe(ə)r
: to lose all hope or confidence
despair of winning
despair
2 of 2 noun1
: utter loss of hope : feeling of complete hopelessness
2
: a cause of hopelessness
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