1
as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the endless drought drove the farmers to despair
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dismay
the state of being discouraged
the other team's temporary lead caused some momentary despair
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to grieve
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of despair
Brad Wolf, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Khalili continues to hide with her husband and child in Islamabad, and her despair continues to mount.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025
And when you’re finished, don’t despair—hop on Slime Rancher 2: Into the Labyrinth for more.
—Sarah Felbin, SELF, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for despair
Noun
The result: Millions of people fleeing their homelands because of gang violence and economic despair.
—Brad Wolf, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Khalili continues to hide with her husband and child in Islamabad, and her despair continues to mount.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
And don’t despair if your historic home has a telephone nook.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025
And when you’re finished, don’t despair—hop on Slime Rancher 2: Into the Labyrinth for more.
—Sarah Felbin, SELF, 31 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
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When guests arrive in town with a plan that will uproot Junie’s life, her act of desperation wakes Minnie’s spirit from the grave, also unveiling horrifying secrets about Bellereine.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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Their swollen limbs, skeletal frames, and mewling cries of desperation are what keep me awake at night.—
Jennifer Furin,
TIME,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Much to the dismay of proud Gen X viewers, many do.—
Mara Reinstein,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Feb. 2025
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Townsend was adjudged to have fouled Richie Saunders, to the dismay of the vocal home crowd.—
Ben Morse,
CNN,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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To everyone who is grieving today – whose grief has defined your very existence for the past 503 days – please reach out for help.—
Samantha Joseph,
Boston Herald,
22 Feb. 2025
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Chege hasn’t had much time to grieve the loss of her job.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Without immediate results, frustration and discouragement creep up, prompting people to quit.—
Jane Hanson,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
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Super Group believed its global Betway brand and marketing deals with 10 NBA and NHL franchises and on Ted Lasso would draw in Americans, but found high taxes a discouragement in some markets and marketing spending too fierce in others.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Such attacks have helped make health care one of the nation’s most violent fields, with workers suffering more nonfatal injuries from workplace violence than workers in any other profession, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.—
Mark Scolforo,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Feb. 2025
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An intensive care unit doctor, nurse and a custodian suffered gunshot wounds and a fourth employee was injured in a fall, Barker said.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN,
22 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The National Black Justice Coalition released a statement mourning Broom’s death, as well as the death of Sam Nordquist, a Black trans man who was found dead in New York and who officials believe was tortured for weeks before being killed.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them,
25 Feb. 2025
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Dwayne Johnson is mourning the loss of his pet pooch.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Residents gathered in Hostages Square, outside Israel's defense headquarters, as sorrow set in across the country.—
Chris Kenning,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
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The sorrows of the women are also narrativized with poignancy and emotionality.—
Ritesh Mehta,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Speaking of credit scores, contrary to popular opinion, having multiple credit cards won’t hurt you.—
Aislyn Greene,
AFAR Media,
26 Feb. 2025
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The matches are now much more likely to reverse course if one team is pulling ahead — that certainly can’t hurt.—
Gabby Herzig,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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