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
Relevance
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 despaired
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despaired
Verb
-
The other thing most people miss is the sheer scale of what’s actually being grieved.
-
Indigenous men grieved but also fumed when women were attacked.
Verb
-
Prosecutors are also seeking a more serious punishment due to the extent of injuries the victims suffered.
-
However, Trooper Hunter Mathews told CBS Colorado the driver, a 70-year-old man from New Mexico, was taken to the hospital for injuries suffered in a slip and fall after the crash.
Verb
-
Springsteen and his band mourned the loss of the legendary music mogul in a statement shared on Instagram Monday.
-
Both were made to sit outside the gates, deeply upsetting the family who mourned within.
Cite this Entry
“Despaired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despaired. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
