1
as in desperation
utter loss of hope
the endless drought drove the farmers to despair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dismay
the state of being discouraged
the other team's temporary lead caused some momentary despair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 despair
Sonal Nain, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
In the extreme, GoFundMe can perversely encourage users to package their despair into marketable narratives.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2025
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
In recent years, computer modeling has greatly accelerated the project’s timeline, and Gaudí fans who once despaired of ever seeing La Sagrada Familia finished in their lifetimes will get to see it soon.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despair 
Noun
During this time, Stanislava experienced a mixture of despair, hope and heartache as the unit tirelessly worked to recover her husband's body.
—Sonal Nain, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
In the extreme, GoFundMe can perversely encourage users to package their despair into marketable narratives.
—Lila Shroff, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
Interpretations range from hope to despair to a middle ground that contains a little bit of both.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
In recent years, computer modeling has greatly accelerated the project’s timeline, and Gaudí fans who once despaired of ever seeing La Sagrada Familia finished in their lifetimes will get to see it soon.
—Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 23 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despair
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despair
Noun
-
Organized theft is no petty crime; these are not one-off crimes of desperation or a mom lifting a can of formula to feed her baby.—
Cailey Locklair,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Jan. 2025
-
That’s a Shawn Ryan [decision in the writing], and then my job is to act out that turmoil and choreograph the desperation and brutality.—
Max Gao,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
To the dismay of consumers still struggling to digest soaring food costs, that likely means even higher egg prices in 2025.—
Anne Marie Lee,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2025
-
When Cal is murdered while under Secret Service protection, the delicate balance of life in the town is thrown into chaos, much to the dismay of powerful billionaire Samantha Redmond (Nicholson), who has way more influence than seems normal.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
As families grieve, Trump should be leading, not lying.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
31 Jan. 2025
-
The grieving process is something we have all been affected by.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the humorous discouragement from her friends and family, Hurosky remains committed to her goal with a slight modification.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
10 Jan. 2025
-
This creates a cycle of guilt and discouragement that can quickly lead to burnout or abandoning the goal altogether.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
UnitedHealth’s Change Healthcare unit suffered a data breach in February 2024, the news of which surfaced Feb. 21. Initially reported to have affected around 100 million individuals, the U.S. health insurance giant has now revealed that the actual number is significantly higher: 190 million.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
29 Jan. 2025
-
That stock has suffered steep losses, and the broader market has seesawed, since Chinese startup DeepSeek unveiled an artificial intelligence model that has seeded doubts about the U.S. approach to AI.—
Paul Davidson,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Olympian Nancy Kerrigan is mourning those killed on American Airlines Flight 5342, especially the athletes that represented her home club: The Skating Club of Boston.—
Lawrence Yee,
People.com,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Political figures from across the U.S. including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Kansas Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) mourned the incident.—
Ross O'Keefe,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
So safe, in fact, that an entire generation of Americans has come of age without knowing the feeling of sorrow and instability that such disasters always bring.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Her name brings profound joy and hope & her passing leaves painful tears and sorrow.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA TODAY,
31 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Others may become disengaged, hurting productivity, Yost said.—
Paul Davidson,
USA TODAY,
21 Jan. 2025
-
Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramírez have lagged in voting, hurt by suspensions for performance-enhancing drugs.—
Ronald Blum,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near despair
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share