1
as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the endless drought drove the farmers to despair
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of despair
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
In the trailer, the young women are in despair over their sudden destitution.
—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2026
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
In her interview, Guthrie also despaired over the possibility that her fame could have made her mother a target for kidnappers, Page Six also reported.
—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despair
Noun
And the ways that curiosity may just be an antidote to the cynicism and despair that are too often the lingua franca of the internet.
—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2026
In the trailer, the young women are in despair over their sudden destitution.
—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
25 June 2026
Verb
Millions more suffered, starved and despaired in the rubble that was once their homes, businesses and places of worship.
—
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
In her interview, Guthrie also despaired over the possibility that her fame could have made her mother a target for kidnappers, Page Six also reported.
—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
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Their desperation comes as the Venezuelan government faces mounting criticism over its response to the crisis.
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Last week’s desperation deal for David Peterson, a one-time All-Star with the New York Mets, was only the start of a necessary overhaul.
Noun
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Colonists down south, especially fierce New England Protestants who took a dim view of Catholicism, viewed this act – and their new fellow imperial subjects – with dismay and considerable suspicion.
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The decision to wean, much to the dismay of many, can come from either party.
Verb
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Sixty years later, young Alma Singer begins searching for the writer of her mother’s favorite book, hoping to bring romance to her grieving parent.
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The movie follows Gugino as a grieving woman who takes in her troubled nephew, but their lives are upended when an otherworldly entity begins hunting him.
Noun
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Nonetheless, Simón stirs up the ineffable sadness that comes with wanting answers to the mysteries of your family — and then, like it or not, receiving them.
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There’s a frank sadness to nearly every scene, but also a tenderness and warmth between these two unlikely friends.
Noun
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SpongeBob doesn’t stay stuck in discouragement or disappointment for long, but rather looks for something positive to focus on.
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Ray McMillian is a talented Black classical violinist who defies systemic racism and his family’s discouragement to achieve musical success.
Verb
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But Boise only managed to put three of those 15 shots on net to suffer its third home loss of the season.
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Car ownership rates are lower among poor citizens, and many neighborhoods suffer from a lack of infrastructure and planning for safe road designs.
Noun
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But where some might see hopelessness, Ortiz sees an opportunity for connection.
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And when young people feel disconnected or believe systems are unresponsive to their daily experiences, that disconnection can deepen isolation and hopelessness.
Verb
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On Sunday, tens of thousands of men and women gathered in separate sections to mourn Khamenei’s death.
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Readers mourned Bill Spoon’s BBQ, which fed generations before shutting during the pandemic in 2020, and Bubba’s Barbecue on Sunset Road, which closed in January 2026 after 40 years of Eastern North Carolina-style ‘cue.
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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