1
as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the endless drought drove the farmers to despair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despair
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 June 2025
Anybody with sense memories of real-life disasters — from 9/11 to the COVID pandemic — will recognize the human need to normalize despair and catastrophe, as will those who’ve spent a lot of time thinking about climate collapse.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 June 2025
Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 2 May 2025
In a recent interview with the Korea Times Bae talked about the kind of societal expectations that might drive a young person to despair.
—Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Noun
The way the real Nikki and Molly deployed gallows humor and cracked each other up in moments of despair felt so relatable.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 June 2025
Anybody with sense memories of real-life disasters — from 9/11 to the COVID pandemic — will recognize the human need to normalize despair and catastrophe, as will those who’ve spent a lot of time thinking about climate collapse.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 June 2025
Verb
The cost of housing in America is so high that many Americans despair of ever owning a home.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 2 May 2025
In a recent interview with the Korea Times Bae talked about the kind of societal expectations that might drive a young person to despair.
—Joan MacDonald, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
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Years of economic dysfunction have left the country’s once-thriving middle class in a state of desperation.—
Kareem Chehayeb,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2025
-
Based on Spoelstra’s success in driving the Heat to and through the playoffs, nothing dramatic needed here, certainly nothing like the Knicks’ act of desperation with Thibodeau.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
Before the jury reached its partial verdict, the jury foreperson expressed dismay to Farber about deliberation proceedings.—
Alexandra Del Rosario,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2025
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When lawmakers expressed dismay that reform wasn’t happening quickly enough, Schiraldi pleaded for patience.—
Racquel Bazos,
Baltimore Sun,
9 June 2025
Verb
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The achievement of Alcock and Brown came just months after the end of the First World War, at a moment when too many families were grieving the loss of an airman brother, father, or son.—
David Rooney
June 5,
Literary Hub,
5 June 2025
-
Logue will play Holt Keane, a father grieving the loss of his family.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
4 June 2025
Noun
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At the time, Joel was also passionate about motorcycles, despite both the record and the insurance company's discouragement.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
6 June 2025
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Similarly, entrepreneurs should extract valuable insights from rejections while discarding the discouragement.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In June 2023, the dam suffered explosions and failed, flooding downstream towns and villages, with hundreds drowned and still missing.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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Adding to the Sky’s woes, veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot suffered a right leg injury in the first quarter.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Scenes from the crash site; family members mourn victims of the crash.—
Jennifer Jett,
NBC news,
12 June 2025
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The music world is mourning Brian Wilson, one of the most influential songwriters of all time.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
12 June 2025
Noun
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To date, the Facebook post about her story has garnered more than 19,000 reactions, sparking a wave of sorrow and outrage from animal lovers across the country.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 June 2025
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Prefaced by a host of personal disasters—the death of her mother’s onetime partner Mary Norcross, her own hospitalization for digestive problems, her mother’s painful shingles and neuralgia—the decade of the 1940s brought sorrow.—
Susan Gubar
June 9,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2025
Verb
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So giving Luis Campusano a start — finally — can’t hurt a whole lot.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 June 2025
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Clark got hurt at the end of that game and hasn’t suited up since.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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