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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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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Recent Examples of despair
Jenelle Riley, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024
As the titular rogue planet barrels toward Earth, two sisters (Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg) face the emotional wreckage of the world's end: one slipping into paralyzing despair, the other consumed by nervous restlessness.
—Keith Staskiewicz, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. 2024
Lewis, who was a member of the Pearson Commission, therefore despaired of both the altruistic and the enlightened self-interest arguments.
—Jagdish Bhagwati, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2010
See all Example Sentences for despair 
Noun
While Moore nails the despair, self-loathing and insecurity of a woman in a world that values appearances above all else, Qualley is just as fearless as the woman who benefits from it.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024
As the titular rogue planet barrels toward Earth, two sisters (Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg) face the emotional wreckage of the world's end: one slipping into paralyzing despair, the other consumed by nervous restlessness.
—Keith Staskiewicz, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
And both communities despair, perceiving the rest of the world is indifferent to their suffering.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. 2024
Lewis, who was a member of the Pearson Commission, therefore despaired of both the altruistic and the enlightened self-interest arguments.
—Jagdish Bhagwati, Foreign Affairs, 1 Jan. 2010
See all Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
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This too carries a whiff of desperation, as though people are intentionally putting on a brave face and shoving forward symbols of our collective creativity and togetherness.Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2024
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The team acquired him from San Francisco in a mid-season desperation move, just beating the trade deadline, after a plethora of injuries plunged the offense into a deep funk.Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Much to the dismay of Ilona Maher fans, Graziadei and partner Jenna Johnson took home the coveted Mirrorball trophy.Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 2024
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But there was dismay for the Commanders as Seibert hooked the kick and another miracle Washington comeback fell by the wayside.Ben Morse, CNN, 25 Nov. 2024
Verb
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There’s a quicksilver brilliance to her Berniece, a widow still grieving her husband, a daughter acutely feeling the loss of her parents, a mother determined to shield her daughter from generational trauma, and a woman contemplating her own future, romantic, economic, spiritual, and otherwise.Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024
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There are about as many ways to grieve as there are ways to lose loved ones.Christine Pride, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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This leads to feelings of disengagement, discouragement and exhaustion.Jack Kelly, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
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This isn’t just a lesson kids need to hear; parents deal with failure and discouragement too.Kara Nesvig, Parents, 9 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Steen suffered from Duchenne’s disease, a form of muscular dystrophy that gets progressively worse over time.Cameron Koch, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2024
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Twenty-eight staff members and four inmates, including Garcia, suffered injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to a hernia and serious head trauma.Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Philadelphia Eagles icon Brandon Graham suffered what looked like a season-ending injury in the last minutes of Sunday's 37-20 win victory over the Los Angeles Rams, and fans are already mourning what may be the final moments of the defensive end's long career.Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
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While leaders remain indifferent, the people endure: patching what’s broken, mourning what’s lost, and bracing for what’s next.Sarah Al Asmar, Orlando Sentinel, 24 Nov. 2024
Noun
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There will always be a stream of sorrow flowing under my feet.Christine Pride, SELF, 21 Nov. 2024
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So why the slight tinge of sorrow in her announcement?David Fear, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The public pleas for testing are part of health officials’ efforts to halt the outbreak that has disproportionately hurt Native Americans in the Great Plains and Southwest.Kff Health News, Orange County Register, 13 Nov. 2024
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Matthews devotes one parenthetical sentence claiming rocket launches hurt coastal wildlife.Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near despair
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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