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Definitions

despair

[dih-spair] / dɪˈspɛər /
NOUN
depression, hopelessness
Synonyms
STRONGEST
anguish desperation despondency discouragement gloom melancholy misery pain sorrow
STRONG
dejection disheartenment forlornness ordeal trial tribulation wretchedness
WEAK
dashed hopes
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheer comfort contentment encouragement happiness joy pleasure
STRONG
peace
WEAK
cheerfulness confidence faith hopefulness joyfulness trust
VERB
give up hope
Synonyms
STRONG
abandon despond destroy drop flatten relinquish renounce resign surrender yield
WEAK
be hopeless give way have heavy heart let air out lose faith lose heart take down
Antonyms
STRONG
keep pursue
WEAK
anticipate expect have faith hope wish for

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As Linda, she exudes a tightly coiled ferocity in sharp contrast to the fog of despair in which Willy seems to move.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Every facet of life - joy, despair and everything in between – co-existed under the strobe lights.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The festival hopes to encourage artists and fans to turn to comedy, theater, creativity and community instead of despair.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

As fall semester began, panic and then despair set in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

“Oh, oh, oh! What have you done? I’m spoiled! I can’t go! My hair, oh, my hair!” wailed Meg, looking with despair at the uneven frizzle on her forehead.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott

Vocabulary lists containing despair

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

A Long Walk to Water

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!