Synonyms of despaired

despaired

verb

past tense of despair

as in grieved

to lose all hope or confidence

we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grieved
• suffered
• mourned
• hurt
• lost heart
• desponded
• surrendered
• saddened
• discouraged
• bled
• agonized
• disheartened
• sorrowed
• dispirited
• darkened
• yielded
• gave up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brightened
• rejoiced
• assured
• cheered (up)
• encouraged
• hoped
• reassured
• exulted
• perked (up)
• heartened

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of despaired

Some party leaders despaired over Platner’s chances to win even before allegations about previous relationships began to surface. — Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Benjamin killed himself at the French-Spanish border in 1940, having despaired of his chances of escaping the Nazis. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

In 2014, the party despaired at the success of the Koch donor network — decades of right-wing philanthropy that paid off in the tea party movement. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 10 June 2026

In her interview, Guthrie also despaired over the possibility that her fame could have made her mother a target for kidnappers, Page Six also reported. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026

The Herald’s competitors despaired of ever competing with that paper’s speedy acquisition of news, and one, the Journal of Commerce, eventually gave up and created a cooperative agreement with the Herald that would become instrumental in the creation of the Associated Press. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026

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