despair

1 of 2

noun

de·​spair di-ˈsper 

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

despair

2 of 2

verb

despaired; despairing; despairs

intransitive verb

: to lose all hope or confidence

despair of winning

transitive verb

obsolete : to lose hope for

despairer noun

Synonyms

Noun

• desperation
• despond
• despondence
• despondency
• forlornness
• hopelessness

Verb

• despond

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Cohen said counterintelligence operations throughout history have targeted disgruntled federal employees who are left in despair and with no way to pay off their expenses and debts. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2025

This has contributed to a widespread mood of despair. —Kevin A. Young, The Conversation, 18 Mar. 2025

Verb

Should the March weather, however, decide to present something more dull and grey, don’t despair. —Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025

Although searching for a job and avoiding layoffs is stressful, don't despair. —Jack Kelly, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English despeir, despair, borrowed from Anglo-French despeir, despoir, noun derivative of desperer (tonic stem despeir-) "to lose hope or confidence, despair entry 2"

Verb

Middle English despeiren, despairen, dispairen "to lose hope or confidence, be discouraged," borrowed from Anglo-French despeir-, tonic stem of desperer, going back to Latin dēspērāre "to give up as hopeless, despair of," from dē- de- + spērāre "to look forward to, hope for, hope (that)," verbal derivative of *spēs-, presumed alternate stem of spēs, spem "hope, expectation" perhaps by analogy with vīr-, vīs "strength, force" — more at speed entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing despair

• self-despair

Rhymes for despair

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids 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 noun

1

: utter loss of hope : feeling of complete hopelessness

2

: a cause of hopelessness