despair

[ dih-spair ]

noun

1. loss of hope; hopelessness.

   Synonyms: disheartenment, gloom

   Antonyms: hope

2. someone or something that causes hopelessness:

   He is the despair of his mother.

verb (used without object)

1. to lose, give up, or be without hope (often followed by of ):

   to despair of humanity.

verb (used with object)

1. Obsolete. to give up hope of.

despair

/ dɪˈspɛə /

verb

1. introften foll byof to lose or give up hope

   I despair of his coming

2. obsolete.
   tr to give up hope of; lose hope in

noun

1. total loss of hope
2. a person or thing that causes hopelessness or for which there is no hope

Other Words From

• de·spairer noun
• self-de·spair noun
• unde·spaired adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of despair¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English despeir (noun), despeiren (verb), from Anglo-French despeir, Old French despoir (noun), desperer (verb), from Latin dēspērāre “to be without hope,” from dē- de- + spērāre “to hope” (derivative of spēs “hope”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of despair¹

C14: from Old French despoir hopelessness, from desperer to despair, from Latin dēspērāre, from de- + spērāre to hope

Synonym Study

Despair, desperation, despondency, discouragement, hopelessness refer to a state of mind caused by circumstances that seem too much to cope with. Despair suggests total loss of hope, which may be passive or may drive one to furious efforts, even if at random: in the depths of despair; courage born of despair. Desperation is usually an active state, the abandonment of hope impelling to a furious struggle against adverse circumstances, with utter disregard of consequences: an act of desperation when everything else had failed. Despondency is a state of deep gloom and disheartenment: a spell of despondency. Discouragement is a loss of courage, hope, and ambition because of obstacles, frustrations, etc.: His optimism yielded to discouragement. Hopelessness is a loss of hope so complete as to result in a more or less permanent state of passive despair: a state of hopelessness and apathy.

Example Sentences

Traveling through the mountains of Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico, I heard accounts of migrants suffering shortages of food and climate-driven despair that had forced them to move.

From Salon

In the midst of despair the local population are understandably searching for beacons of hope, for example the remarkable story of what happened at the Whitby English language school.

From BBC

“You want the scene to emotionally take you to a high point. And when you can’t express that joy or that euphoria in any other way, you break into song. The same is true the other way. You go down to the depths of despair, and in that moment of pain and that moment of anguish, singing is the only way to express how you feel.”

From Los Angeles Times

Any public voice who suggests that everything is going to be fine and that panic or despair are unwarranted should not be taken seriously.

From Salon

"He feels despair, I know that," said his mother, as she described what led to him being sent to prison when he was 19 years old.

From BBC

Related Words

• anguish
• desperation
• despondency
• discouragement
• gloom
• melancholy
• misery
• pain
• sorrow