DESPAIRS Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

despairs

verb

present tense third-person singular of despair

as in grieves

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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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 despairs In Osamu Dazai’s The Setting Sun, Kazuko despairs of the pain that her brother Naoji’s drug addiction and degenerate behavior have caused the family. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 As someone who regularly despairs over the choice between a sweet or savory breakfast meal, this was a godsend. — Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026 When Eva suddenly disappears without a trace, the priest despairs, leading him to commit a series of shocking and violent crimes. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for despairs

Verb

When reached by phone Tuesday morning, a woman who identified herself as Destiny’s mother declined to comment and requested privacy as the family grieves.

— Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
My heart grieves for someone so special to this world and such a good friend to me.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of grieves

Verb

History and imagination mix as Hanks, playing Abraham Lincoln, mourns for his dead son, while the spirits of the dead, voiced by an A-list cast, meditate on grief and empathy.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
As the world mourns Dolly Parton, Tennessee has plans to immortalize the late Queen of Country while welcoming visitors to Music City.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of mourns

Verb

The model is pulled in ten different directions by different internal product teams, resulting in an interface that suffers from sudden behavioral resets and an inability to smoothly execute complex, multi-turn human requests.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
His defense attorney previously said the assaults were not politically motivated and that DeFoor suffers from mental health issues.

— Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of suffers

Browse Nearby Words

despairingly

despairs

desperado

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“Despairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despairs. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of despairs

verb

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