despair Definition
the feeling that there is no hope and that you can do nothing to improve a difficult or worrying situation.
Using despair: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "despair" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She sank into despair when she lost her job.
Example
The team was filled with despair after losing the championship game.
Example
He felt a sense of despair as he watched the destruction caused by the hurricane.
Example
The country is in a state of despair due to the ongoing conflict.
despair Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for despair
- discouragement
- dejection
- hopelessness
- melancholy
- gloom
Antonyms for despair
- confidence
- hope
- optimism
Idioms Using despair
in the depths of despair
feeling extremely hopeless and depressed
Example
After the breakup, she was in the depths of despair and couldn't imagine ever being happy again.
despairing of
feeling that there is no hope for something or someone
Example
The doctors were despairing of his recovery after the accident.
despair at
to feel very sad or disappointed about something
Example
Many people feel despair at the state of the world today.
Phrases with despair
in despair
feeling hopeless and without any expectation of improvement
Example
She was in despair after her husband died.
beyond despair
having no hope left at all
Example
The situation was beyond despair, with no solution in sight.
despair of
to lose hope or confidence in something or someone
Example
I despair of ever finding a job in this economy.
Origins of despair
from Old French 'despoir', meaning 'without hope'
Summary: despair in Brief
The term 'despair' [dɪˈspeə(r)] refers to the feeling of hopelessness and lack of control in difficult or worrying situations. It can be used to describe a range of emotions, from sadness to depression, and is often accompanied by phrases like 'in despair' and 'beyond despair.' The idiom 'in the depths of despair' denotes extreme hopelessness, while 'despairing of' and 'despair at' describe a sense of loss of hope or confidence.
