How to Use despair in a Sentence

despair

1 of 2 noun

• The people were driven to despair by the horrors of war.
• This latest setback has brought her to the depths of despair.
• I was overcome by despair at being unable to find them.
• His despair nearly drove him mad.
• She finally gave up in despair.
• There was despair in her eyes, and there was pride, too.
  — Yiyun Li, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
• The virus was lethal, but the scale of our despair was built.
  — Jennifer W. Tsai, STAT, 18 Jan. 2026
• The furor leads even Herold to despair.
  — Jeremy Fugleberg, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
• The father runs his hands over his head in despair.
  — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
• Losing a child to a crime adds to the depths of despair.
  — Denise Lorence, Twin Cities, 24 Oct. 2025
• That reminder is not an act of despair.
  — Karen Kramer, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
• This class has also helped me in my time of need and despair.
  — Lauren Del Valle, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
• Of course, my mother was just in despair at this point.
  — Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 1 June 2026
• Most of us don't in moments of despair.
  — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025
• But our story need not end in despair.
  — Matt Martin, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
• Amid much despair, they’re framed as one small symbol of hope.
  — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
• Adults hit that note of despair only when the pain is too much to bear.
  — Jeneé Osterheldt, kansascity, 14 Feb. 2018
• Look on my kids, ye strategists, and despair!
  — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
• Lue’s players tell it, that pluck stemmed as much from him as despair.
  — New York Times, 25 June 2021
• The right issues made her despair.
  — Sara Wheeler, Big Think, 17 Apr. 2026
• Days turned into weeks of despair.
  — Maryanne Murray Buechner, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
• That’s not a reason to despair.
  — Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks, Fortune, 13 May 2026
• Of course, a bubonic plague just had to break out, and pile on the despair.
  — Tribune News Service, cleveland, 14 Feb. 2022
• The next moment, spur your despair.
  — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
• But despair doesn’t get you anywhere.
  — Fred Schruers, Rolling Stone, 26 Jan. 2026
• And a quarter of those kids on my old school bus are now gone from deaths of despair.
  — Lacy Scarmana, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2020
• This is a war film dotted with heroism but dunked in despair.
  — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 Apr. 2023
• As the days went by the Bishes' despair grew.
  — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
• Many of these debtors despair of ever paying the huge sums back.
  — Victor Davis Hanson, The Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2019
• At first, her despair is a little hard to fathom.
  — Brandy Jensen, New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2026

despair

2 of 2 verb

• Things look bad now, but don't despair.
• When the air gets down near zero, parts fail and people despair.
  — Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 4 Jan. 2018
• Many despaired, saying the change had left them depressed and adrift.
  — Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2023
• While those legendary spreads may be harder to come by these days, don't despair.
  — Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
• Don't despair, left-handers who have just smeared the ink across your paper yet again.
  — Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 31 Oct. 2013
• Steeves did not despair when he was sent to Providence.
  — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
• Harry is drunk, despairing, lovesick and lost down blind alleys much of the time.
  — Scott Timberg, latimes.com, 10 July 2019
• But don't despair if the weather isn't working in your favor.
  — Leigh Morgan, AL.com, 30 Jan. 2018
• In other words, those still seeking a unicorn shouldn’t despair.
  — S.l. Price, SI.com, 8 Sep. 2017
• For those with a bad case of Chionophobia — a fear of snow, do not despair, for spring is near.
  — Kevin Dayhoff, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2023
• What despairs us is knowing that the slightest breeze will leave us without power.
  — Danica Coto, The Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2019
• But if yours leak butter or the dough becomes sticky and unworkable, do not despair.
  — Tribune News Service, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2020
• If melted candle wax dripped on your carpet or a favorite sweater, don't despair.
  — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2025
• If you’ve been left in a gaping void by the end of Succession, don’t despair.
  — Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 June 2023
• Alone and unable to work, Boylan despaired and made plans for suicide.
  — David Armstrong, ProPublica, 23 Aug. 2019
• But don’t despair and stare up into the stars feeling defeated.
  — oregonlive, 4 Dec. 2020
• Don’t despair; there are, in fact, Orlando arts events on the horizon.
  — Matthew J. Palm, orlandosentinel.com, 5 Aug. 2020
• The news of her 23-year-old son’s execution shocked and despaired the world.
  — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
• This is a good policy, but for those of us who already bought elaborate cards, there's no need to despair.
  — Eleanor Cummins, Popular Science, 24 Dec. 2020
• Do not despair, though, because the palace has been in formal contact with Tanna in the past.
  — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2021
• The Vikings and their fans should not despair, even after the misery of Monday night.
  — Bob Sansevere, Twin Cities, 23 Dec. 2019
• In the downbeat, despairing worlds of both these thrillers, this upbeat, inspiring theme shines.
  — Gerald Bartell, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2019
• The man who once took pride in being fit long after his college football career now despairs of getting his health back.
  — Amy Ellis Nutt, Washington Post, 30 Mar. 2018
• Still, viewers who come to Netflix for the kind of movies and shows that win awards and top critics’ best-of lists shouldn’t despair yet.
  — Time, 3 Jan. 2020
• Harry Styles fans shouldn't despair, though, as the musician has several movie projects in the works.
  — Amy MacKelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 3 Oct. 2020
• But consumers shouldn’t despair, as AMD’s Su promised a version for them as well.
  — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, 5 June 2018
• Don’t despair if some of your grades aren’t quite what you were used to in geography class — some states are much more difficult than others.
  — Chris Wilson, Time, 5 July 2017
• The book’s tone shifts from philosophical to playful to despairing to sensual, and on around again.
  — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2025
• As someone who regularly despairs over the choice between a sweet or savory breakfast meal, this was a godsend.
  — Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026
• There are as many reading appetites as there are readers, so if your favorite book of 2022 doesn't make our list, don't despair.
  — Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, 24 May 2022