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despairing

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of despairing

1 emphasizing or expecting the worst

  • despairing predictions regarding the effects of global overpopulation
Synonyms of despairing

bearish, defeatist, downbeat, hopeless, pessimistic
Words Related to despairing

cynical, fatalistic, nihilist, nihilistic

desperate, discouraging, disheartening, inauspicious, unlikely, unpromising

bleak, cheerless, comfortless, depressing, desolate, dismal, dreary, funereal, gloomy, morose, saturnine, sepulchral, somber (or sombre), sullen

grim

contrary, hostile, negative
Near Antonyms of despairing

auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, likely, promising, propitious

cheering, comforting, reassuring

favorable, good, positive

idealist, romantic, utopian, visionary

cheerful, cheery, chipper, sunny
Antonyms of despairing

hopeful, optimistic, Panglossian, Pollyanna, Pollyannaish (also Polyannish), rose-colored, rosy, upbeat

2 feeling or showing no hope

  • despairing applicants need to be reminded that most students are eventually accepted somewhere
Synonyms of despairing

desperate, despondent, forlorn, hopeless
Words Related to despairing

blue, brokenhearted, crestfallen, dejected, depressed, disconsolate, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted, gloomy, glum, hangdog, heartbroken, heartsick, heartsore, inconsolable, joyless, low, low-spirited, melancholy, miserable, mournful, sad, saddened, sorrowful, sorry, unhappy, woebegone, woeful, wretched

abject, disappointed, discouraged, disheartened, dispirited

grieving, wailing, weeping

bleak, cheerless, comfortless, dark, depressing, desolate, dismal, drear, dreary, funereal

cynical, pessimistic

accepting, resigned
Near Antonyms of despairing

ecstatic, elated, enraptured, entranced, euphoric, exhilarated, exuberant, exultant

blithe, blithesome, gay, jocund, jolly, jovial, lightsome, merry, mirthful

encouraged, heartened

animated, jaunty, lively, perky, sprightful, sprightly, vivacious

blissful, buoyant, cheerful, cheery, chipper, delighted, glad, gladdened, gladsome, gleeful, happy, joyful, joyous, jubilant, sunny, upbeat
Antonyms of despairing

hopeful, optimistic

Synonym Discussion of despairing

despondent, despairing, desperate, hopeless mean having lost all or nearly all hope. despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.
    • despondent about yet another rejection
despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.
    • despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child
desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.
    • one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle
hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.
    • the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

Learn More about despairing

  1. Dictionary: Definition of despairing Spanish Central: Translation of despairing Nglish: Translation of despairing for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of despairing for Arabic speakers

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