1
: utter loss of hope
a cry of despair
gave up in despair
2
: a cause of hopelessness
an incorrigible child is the despair of his parents
despaired; despairing; despairs
: to lose all hope or confidence
despair of winning
obsolete
: to lose hope for
despairer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of despair in a Sentence
Noun
On the occasion of Johnson's tercentenary, Martin (A Life of James Boswell) searches out the psychological elements covered up by Boswell and others: the immense insecurities, bouts of deep depression, corrosive self-doubt and, in his last days, despair for his very soul.
—
Publishers Weekly, 21 July 2008
Players who'd been on the 2004 Olympic team joked about whether their two bronze medals equaled one silver. There was none of the despair or finger-pointing that followed the world championships in '02, when Team USA finished sixth.
—Kelly Anderson, Sports Illustrated, 11 Sept. 2006
The people who try to save endangered species in Hawaii are immune to despair. They have to be, to keep doing what they do.
—Lawrence Downes, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2004
His despair nearly drove him mad.
I was overcome by despair at being unable to find them.
She finally gave up in despair.
The people were driven to despair by the horrors of war.
This latest setback has brought her to the depths of despair.
Verb
It is possible that at this stage Caesar had not altogether despaired of a consensual solution to the difficulties facing the Republic.
—Anthony Everitt, Cicero, (2001) 2003
Sometimes it is hard not to despair about relations between men and women in American society. They seem to have hit rock bottom.
—Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, New Republic, 6 May 2002
Yet, until very recently, Alzheimer's was so poorly understood that scientists despaired of finding a treatment, much less a cure.
—Ken Garber, Technology, March 2001
Things look bad now, but don't despair.
we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project
Publishers Weekly, 21 July 2008
Players who'd been on the 2004 Olympic team joked about whether their two bronze medals equaled one silver. There was none of the despair or finger-pointing that followed the world championships in '02, when Team USA finished sixth.
—Kelly Anderson, Sports Illustrated, 11 Sept. 2006
The people who try to save endangered species in Hawaii are immune to despair. They have to be, to keep doing what they do.
—Lawrence Downes, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2004
His despair nearly drove him mad.
I was overcome by despair at being unable to find them.
She finally gave up in despair.
The people were driven to despair by the horrors of war.
This latest setback has brought her to the depths of despair.
Verb
It is possible that at this stage Caesar had not altogether despaired of a consensual solution to the difficulties facing the Republic.
—Anthony Everitt, Cicero, (2001) 2003
Sometimes it is hard not to despair about relations between men and women in American society. They seem to have hit rock bottom.
—Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, New Republic, 6 May 2002
Yet, until very recently, Alzheimer's was so poorly understood that scientists despaired of finding a treatment, much less a cure.
—Ken Garber, Technology, March 2001
Things look bad now, but don't despair.
we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project
Recent Examples on the WebCarly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024
But its authors say the bleak findings should be cause for action, not despair.
—Axios Portland, Axios, 11 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
The Booker Prize winner was also asked about her best defense against despair.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024
But its authors say the bleak findings should be cause for action, not despair.
—Axios Portland, Axios, 11 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
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'despair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near despair
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despair. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
despair
1 of 2 verb
de·spair
di-ˈspa(ə)r 
-ˈspe(ə)r
: to lose all hope or confidence
despair of winning
despair
2 of 2 noun1
: utter loss of hope : feeling of complete hopelessness
2
: a cause of hopelessness
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