as in grieved
to lose all hope or confidence
we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project
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Recent Examples of despaired
Democrats rejoiced; Republicans despaired.
—
Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
The news of her 23-year-old son’s execution shocked and despaired the world.
—Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Anyone who ever despaired about their outstanding mortgage remaining virtually static despite months of repayments will relate.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026
The news of her 23-year-old son’s execution shocked and despaired the world.
—Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Anyone who ever despaired about their outstanding mortgage remaining virtually static despite months of repayments will relate.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despaired
Verb
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But anyone who has ever grieved knows there will be no closure for these families; there will be only an opening, a void where someone was and now isn’t.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
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Chung adds that her decision to preserve MisTricks in this way has been a source of comfort as she's grieved the death of her pup.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Among the people in the cell, three suffered from very severe mental-health issues, and they would only be calmed down with heavy drugs.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
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Public relations guru George Regan and his wife Elizabeth had just returned from the Super Bowl when George suffered a medical crisis.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Khamenei will not be mourned outside of Iran, but Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps is still in power.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Mar. 2026
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At such rallies this weekend, Khamenei supporters mourned his death.—
Ramin Mostaghim,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despaired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despaired. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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