1
as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the endless drought drove the farmers to despair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of despair
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
As the party collapses into collective, mob-like madness, despair is unleashed along with paranoia, depravity, violence, and carnage.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
While the first Korean drop vanished instantly, U.S. fans don’t have to despair.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Noun
Yet Plemons imbues him with despair, finding a pitiful fragility in his aggression.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 31 Oct. 2025
As the party collapses into collective, mob-like madness, despair is unleashed along with paranoia, depravity, violence, and carnage.
—Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
But other costs have added to despair: the relative prices of housing, healthcare, and student debt have risen.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025
While the first Korean drop vanished instantly, U.S. fans don’t have to despair.
—Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
-
India lost its review in desperation to get Wolvaardt dismissed, and then gambled with Verma’s gentle off-breakers.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Under this scenario, irregular migration continues, driven by desperation abroad and labor demand at home.—
Jonathan Portes,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Lamenting the state of life in a post-pandemic world, Peck offers an alternative to the dismay and disconnection of modernity with a dreamy, escapist country melody that offers to make like the title and simply float off into the distance.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Consequently, the creeping dismay of Henry Hill’s tablemates is at least as significant as Ray Liotta’s rising panic and fear.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Hours before Wednesday's game against the Halifax Macs, the Nova Scotia U-18 Major Hockey League announced on X that Marchand and Andrew Bodnarchuk will cover for the grieving father as guest coaches.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
-
That line belongs to Triss Merigold, who is shocked when Yennefer pulls a small jade statue out of her decolletage and transforms it back into Francesca Findabair, the elven queen still grieving the loss of both her husband and her infant heir.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Followers and fans of Tika online expressed their sadness in the comment section.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
And in the last days of August, laughter and pot would waft over the scene, happiness laced with sadness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Labor market discouragement can come from weakness in the overall job market, shifts in industrial composition, or barriers or constraints that affect specific workers.—
Kathryn Anne Edwards,
Twin Cities,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Others expressed frustration over technical issues and data loss, compounding feelings of discouragement.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Authorities then discovered De Silva suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
That is, some of the properties suffered damage during the war, but others were destroyed because the owners left the country during the conflict.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The 1986 film also included accounts by former conscripts who had been forced to participate in the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, making clear the hopelessness and brutality of the war, starkly contrasting with the Kremlin’s version of a war of progress and purpose.—
Will Tizard,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
-
In a world fraught with real-life villains, political upheaval and a collective sense of hopelessness, fantasy steps in to inspire people to carry on, and that rings especially true for LGBTQ+ teens.—
Brittany Johnson,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Flying the American flag at half-staff is symbolic of a nation in mourning.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
-
In mourning his loss, fans and peers alike remember a visionary artist whose art captured the soul of the South.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share