Synonyms of despairing

despairing 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈsper-iŋ 

1

as in hopeless

emphasizing or expecting the worst

despairing predictions regarding the effects of global overpopulation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hopeless
• cynical
• desperate
• pessimistic
• bleak
• depressing
• discouraging
• negative
• defeatist
• downbeat
• grim
• bearish
• fatalistic
• nihilistic
• somber
• sombre
• unlikely
• hostile
• morose
• cheerless
• disheartening
• sullen
• inauspicious
• unpromising
• gloomy
• sepulchral
• dismal
• nihilist
• funereal
• dreary
• saturnine
• desolate
• contrary
• comfortless

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hopeful
• optimistic
• upbeat
• encouraging
• rosy
• promising
• likely
• bright
• heartening
• golden
• fair
• propitious
• reassuring
• comforting
• positive
• auspicious
• Pollyannish
• good
• favorable
• Panglossian
• Pollyannaish
• Pollyanna
• romantic
• utopian
• rose-colored
• cheerful
• cheering
• visionary
• idealist
• cheery
• sunny
• chipper

2

as in desperate

feeling or showing no hope

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• desperate
• hopeless
• unhappy
• sad
• disappointed
• mournful
• despondent
• bleak
• forlorn
• cynical
• depressed
• heartbroken
• melancholy
• dark
• depressing
• accepting
• disconsolate
• sorrowful
• dejected
• miserable
• discouraged
• doleful
• gloomy
• crestfallen
• downcast
• woebegone
• heartsick
• dispirited
• weeping
• glum
• inconsolable
• joyless
• abject
• grieving
• sorry
• woeful
• blue
• wailing
• wretched
• brokenhearted
• hangdog
• disheartened
• saddened
• downhearted
• resigned
• low
• desolate
• cheerless
• dismal
• pessimistic
• dreary
• down
• heartsore
• low-spirited
• comfortless
• drear
• funereal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• optimistic
• hopeful
• exultant
• ecstatic
• exuberant
• euphoric
• enraptured
• merry
• mirthful
• jovial
• jolly
• blithe
• gay
• elated
• exhilarated
• joyous
• joyful
• jubilant
• cheerful
• entranced
• lively
• encouraged
• happy
• jocund
• gleeful
• vivacious
• glad
• jaunty
• blithesome
• buoyant
• perky
• blissful
• cheery
• animated
• sprightly
• upbeat
• delighted
• lightsome
• sunny
• heartened
• chipper
• gladdened
• gladsome
• sprightful

despairing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of despair

as in grieving

to lose all hope or confidence

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grieving
• suffering
• mourning
• desponding
• hurting
• losing heart
• bleeding
• sorrowing
• surrendering
• discouraging
• darkening
• saddening
• disheartening
• yielding
• agonizing
• dispiriting
• giving up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• brightening
• rejoicing
• exulting
• cheering (up)
• encouraging
• reassuring
• assuring
• hoping
• perking (up)
• heartening

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective despairing differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of despairing are desperate, despondent, and hopeless. While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

When is it sensible to use desperate instead of despairing?

While the synonyms desperate and despairing are close in meaning, 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

When might despondent be a better fit than despairing?

While in some cases nearly identical to despairing, despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

Where would hopeless be a reasonable alternative to despairing?

The synonyms hopeless and despairing are sometimes interchangeable, but hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of despairing

Adjective

Authorities have reduced cadet training from one year to a few months, with families back home receiving despairing phone calls from recruits who regard being dispatched to the Congo as akin to a death sentence. —Michela Wrong, NBC news, 6 June 2025

The arc of the subject’s life is evoked through steadily darkening, tightening mood, with certain scenes and setups replicated to variously despairing effect, from tacitly shifting points of view. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 May 2025

Verb

These are the people who, despairing of finding their way out honestly, simply smash and bash their way through the corn willy-nilly. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2024

Meme-makers across America are despairing right now. —Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024