despairing

1 emphasizing or expecting the worst despairing predictions regarding the effects of global overpopulation Synonyms bearish, defeatist, pessimistic, downbeat, hopelessRelated Words 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, negativeNear Antonyms auspicious, bright, encouraging, fair, golden, heartening, likely, promising, propitious; cheering, comforting, reassuring; favorable, good, positive; idealist, romantic, utopian, visionary; cheerful, cheery, chipper, sunnyAntonyms 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 despondent, desperate, forlorn, hopelessRelated Words 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, resignedNear Antonyms 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, upbeatAntonyms hopeful, optimistic