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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despair
Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
The 21st century’s obstacles for young men—as seen in deaths of despair and lagging employment—have been amply publicized both by credible journalists and by charlatans such as Fuentes.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
Steeves did not despair when he was sent to Providence.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despair
Noun
Absent that, Boss said, many people fall into despair.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
The 21st century’s obstacles for young men—as seen in deaths of despair and lagging employment—have been amply publicized both by credible journalists and by charlatans such as Fuentes.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Democrats rejoiced; Republicans despaired.
—Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
Steeves did not despair when he was sent to Providence.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
-
Whether firing Cassidy was an act of desperation or necessity or somewhere in between, all the focus will be on Tortorella's ability to maximize what management clearly believes is a roster capable of competing for a championship.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Blackouts and economic collapse have sparked widespread desperation in Cuba, with citizens openly protesting the government despite decades of political repression.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Others expressed dismay over human rights issues.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Red Sox have struggled defensively throughout most of Cora’s tenure as manager (2018-19, 2021-present), much to his dismay.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, the film was shot on location in the Australian wilderness and features Theron as a grieving woman on a solo adventure who becomes the target of a cunning killer (Egerton) in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
-
In the lavish memorial erected by his grieving widow, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert is golden, but few world leaders are permanently gilded, and certainly not before their deaths.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Relieved of their blindfolds, the men now wore heavy rucksacks filled with colored rocks representing their anger (red), guilt and shame (black), and sadness (blue).—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Reaction to the news Monday that the Connecticut Sun WNBA team is officially being moved to Houston was of sadness and regret in Connecticut, especially amongst those who had tried to keep the professional women’s basketball team in the state over the last year.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Be aware that this discouragement might not be based on solid facts, but rather on disappointed hopes and wishes.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
-
And given all the ambient discouragement against speaking up about this particular cause, solidarity isn’t just a buzzword.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hilda Lorena Cifuentes Cifuentes family photo Cifuentes suffered extensive injuries to her face, arms, legs and abdomen, along with head trauma.—
Tori Mason,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The Ducks played without their leading goal scorer, Cutter Gauthier, who suffered an upper-body injury in Monday night's 5-4 loss to Toronto.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For her and many other Iranians who spoke to CNN – their surnames withheld to protect their identities – the past three weeks have been filled with a sense of hopelessness and fear.—
Leila Gharagozlou,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Depression and hopelessness are at their highest ever measured.—
Ariel David,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sanders was still mourning the loss of his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers, who’d fled west, to Los Angeles, nearly seventy years ago.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department mourns the loss of Deputy Levi Vargas, who passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the age of 30.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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