despair

noun de·spair \ di-ˈsper \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of despair

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

See despair defined for English-language learners

Examples of despair in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of despair from the Web

The cryptic despair and magnanimous ideology surrounding this one singular transaction, which then congeal together to form an entirely different kind of molecular activity other than DNA, is damningly mercurial.

— rebecca carroll, latimes.com, "In 'That Kind of Mother,' Rumaan Alam enters the thorny world of interracial adoption," 3 May 2018
The unemployment rate is over 15% nationally and higher in the countryside, leading to despair.

— The Economist, "The uncertain promise of local elections in the birthplace of the Arab spring," 3 May 2018
Shock, denial, despair, action, frustration and, finally, a sort of acceptance.

— chris ballard, SI.com, "Same Warrior, New Battle: Brian Grant Won't Back Down From Parkinson's Disease," 2 May 2018
Prior’s defiant fight for life in the face of despair — sometimes in the form of a literal wrestling match with an angel, like Jacob fighting for his blessing — is the heart of the play’s two parts.

— constance grady, Vox, "How 2018 reshaped Angels in America," 30 Apr. 2018
So is his son Charlie whose death drove him into existential despair.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Westworld: Unraveling the Baffling Time Jumps of “The Reunion”," 29 Apr. 2018
Economists and politicians have painted the epidemic as an outgrowth of job market despair, at least in part.

— Bloomberg.com, "Opioids Actually Boost Women’s Employment: Eco Research Wrap," 27 Mar. 2018
Settle in, though, and you'll experience richness and resourcefulness, tragedy and despair, sometimes all in a single day.

— lisa demer, Anchorage Daily News, "Life in Bethel: Richness and despair, sometimes all in a single day," 10 Feb. 2018
Barbara was thrust into despair by the ordeal and its aftermath.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Family: Former first lady Barbara Bush dies at 92," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'despair.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of despair

see ²despair

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

despair Synonyms

Phrases

slough of despond;

despair

verb

Definition of despair

intransitive verb

: to lose all hope or confidence

despair of winning

transitive verb

obsolete : to lose hope for

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despairer

noun