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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of despair
Christine Adams / Made By History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
But despair is a luxury that your children can’t afford.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Francisco Toro, Foreign Affairs, 2 Mar. 2014
And both communities despair, perceiving the rest of the world is indifferent to their suffering.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for despair 
Noun
When the Great Depression hit in the early 1930s, Hitler and his followers were ready to take advantage of the German people’s despair and to focus their attention on a scapegoat—the political left and the Jews—as support for centrist political parties eroded.
—Christine Adams / Made By History, TIME, 5 Nov. 2024
But despair is a luxury that your children can’t afford.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
The more radical faction despaired of any attempt at dialogue and centered its hopes on a strategy of popular protest culminating in revolution.
—Francisco Toro, Foreign Affairs, 2 Mar. 2014
And both communities despair, perceiving the rest of the world is indifferent to their suffering.
—Detroit Free Press, 6 Oct. 2024
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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The Bears have fallen apart in the most crucial moments and their lack of preparation in a Hail Mary loss to the Washington Commanders and a field goal block suffered against the Green Bay Packers is likely to be his Chicago legacy.Steve Silverman, Forbes, 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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But residents have mostly devoted efforts to cleaning up after the devastation and to mourning the dead.Emma Bubola, New York Times, 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 easy-to-use bamboo tool has a smart four-claw design that effectively removes any weeds in its way, and the long length of the handle means users don’t have to hurt their back or knees bending over to remove the pesky plants.Rachel Simon, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Nov. 2024
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Therefore, any tariff levy will hurt businesses that operate internationally, fears of which have increased in recent weeks following Trump’s election victory.Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 28 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near despair
Cite this Entry
“Despair.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despair. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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