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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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
  1. grieves
  2. mourns
  3. suffers
Verb
  • Pi-o grieves the death of his friend, unable to get out of bed for days.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Kylie grieves over her comatose boyfriend, setting her on a journey to the English countryside in order to end the curse, and Antonia watches over Kylie’s beau in the hospital.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of grieves
Verb
  • The series focuses on a 13-year-old named Sophie, who mourns her grandfather Thomas every day in a Milan cemetery.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Continue reading … ‘DEEP DESPAIR’ — 'Breaking Bad' star's cause of death confirmed as Bryan Cranston mourns TV son.
    — , FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of mourns
Verb
  • If either connection is strained by distance or wall interference, the experience suffers.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Enthusiasm around that event has helped push the shares to an all-time high this week as the rest of the tech sector suffers.
    — Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of suffers

Browse Nearby Words

despairingly
despairs
desperado
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Cite this Entry

“Despairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despairs. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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