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View synonyms for despair

despair

[ dih-spair ]

noun

  1. loss of hope; hopelessness.

    Synonyms: disheartenment, gloom

    Antonyms: hope

  2. someone or something that causes hopelessness:

    He is the despair of his mother.



verb (used without object)

  1. to lose, give up, or be without hope (often followed by of ):

    to despair of humanity.

verb (used with object)

  1. Obsolete. to give up hope of.

despair

/ dɪˈspɛə /

verb

  1. introften foll byof to lose or give up hope

    I despair of his coming

  2. obsolete.
    tr to give up hope of; lose hope in


noun

  1. total loss of hope
  2. a person or thing that causes hopelessness or for which there is no hope

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Other Words From

  • de·spairer noun
  • self-de·spair noun
  • unde·spaired adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of despair1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English despeir (noun), despeiren (verb), from Anglo-French despeir, Old French despoir (noun), desperer (verb), from Latin dēspērāre “to be without hope,” from dē- de- + spērāre “to hope” (derivative of spēs “hope”)

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Word History and Origins

Origin of despair1

C14: from Old French despoir hopelessness, from desperer to despair, from Latin dēspērāre, from de- + spērāre to hope

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Synonym Study

Despair, desperation, despondency, discouragement, hopelessness refer to a state of mind caused by circumstances that seem too much to cope with. Despair suggests total loss of hope, which may be passive or may drive one to furious efforts, even if at random: in the depths of despair; courage born of despair. Desperation is usually an active state, the abandonment of hope impelling to a furious struggle against adverse circumstances, with utter disregard of consequences: an act of desperation when everything else had failed. Despondency is a state of deep gloom and disheartenment: a spell of despondency. Discouragement is a loss of courage, hope, and ambition because of obstacles, frustrations, etc.: His optimism yielded to discouragement. Hopelessness is a loss of hope so complete as to result in a more or less permanent state of passive despair: a state of hopelessness and apathy.

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Example Sentences

“Light trumps darkness, hope beats despair, grace wins over sin, love defeats hate, life conquers death,” the cardinal said.

Three months of despair were ignited in suburban Missouri when officer Darren Wilson was told he would walk free.

It may be nothing other than anger and despair, at this point.

I highly doubt that anyone not already in a state of despair would look to war as an antidote to Godlessness.

Future urbanization does not need to pose a choice between rural hopelessness and urban despair.

Davy read this over two or three times, in the greatest perplexity, and then gave it up in despair.

Prud'hon, in humiliation and despair, lived in a solitude almost complete.

The falling dew, and the howling wind raised him not from that bed of lonely despair.

But the '34 port was so good that he revoked twice, to the indignation and despair of his unhappy brother and partner.

As they got lower and lower down the hill, her wretchedness and disquiet became acute, to the point of a wild despair.

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desoxy-despairing