despair

1 utter loss of hope the endless drought drove the farmers to despair Synonyms desperation, despond, despondence, despondency, forlornness, hopelessness Related Words blue devils, blues, dejection, depression, desolation, disconsolateness, dispiritedness, doldrums, dolor, downheartedness, dreariness, dumps, gloom, gloominess, joylessness, melancholy, mopes, oppression, sadness, sorrow, unhappiness; self-despair, self-pity; dolefulness, mournfulness, sorrowfulness, woefulness; agony, distress, pain; misery, woe, wretchedness; cynicism, pessimism; acceptance, resignation Phrases slough of despond Near Antonyms cheer, cheerfulness, sunniness; optimism; gaiety (also gayety), glee, gleefulness, jollity, joviality, lightheartedness, merriment, mirth, mirthfulness; bliss, blissfulness, ecstasy, elatedness, elation, euphoria, exhilaration, exuberance, exultation, gladness, happiness, joy, joyfulness, joyousness, jubilation, rapture, rapturousness Antonyms hope, hopefulness

2 the state of being discouraged the other team's temporary lead caused some momentary despair Synonyms demoralization, discouragement, despondency, disheartenment, dismay, dispiritednessRelated Words blues, dejection, depression, dumps, gloom, melancholy, mopes; defeatism, pessimism, resignationNear Antonyms optimism, sanguinityAntonyms encouragement

to lose all hope or confidence we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project Synonyms despond Related Words give up, surrender, yield; darken, sadden; agonize, bleed, grieve, hurt, mourn, sorrow, suffer; discourage, dishearten, dispirit Phrases lose heart Near Antonyms exult, rejoice; assure, encourage, hearten, reassure; hope Antonyms brighten, cheer (up), perk (up)