despair
Example Sentences
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They expressed frustration, despair and some acceptance that the gains they expected to reap—some in the seven figures—might be gone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Peter’s inner despair gets externalized when he invents a genetic inhibitor neck implant to tamp down his sensitivity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
But remember, despair isn’t activism—it’s just another impediment to progress.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
Argentina's great sporting icon had been captured on the giant screens looking up in despair as the holders trailed Egypt 2-0 with less than 20 minutes left.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
A heavy feeling of despair weighed down her arms and legs, but she realized that Ambuya needed care.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
Kakar despairs at the plight of Afghans who remain in Pakistan.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 28, 2024
Then Isabel’s despairs stack, pressing her to expand her inquiry beyond the United States and diagnose history’s gravest injuries.
From Salon ● Jan. 26, 2024
When they finally make it to their destination and find they’ll be sharing it with an unexpected houseguest, Leon grumbles and despairs of getting anything done.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2023
Mr Jones said he "despairs" when visitors in north Wales are "let down" by the train network, and said that it was a "big, big disappointment".
From BBC ● May 30, 2023
Another story: the emperor despairs of Ending a horse able to run a thousand li.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
But closer to the high-security perimeter, a crowd of worshippers despaired as police officers blocked their route.
From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026
The 28-year-old software engineer despaired of ever reaching America.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2025
As Aduba ran through scenes in which Chisholm triumphantly campaigned or despaired at the obstacles to her success, “You could hear a pin drop,” Blanchett said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2025
You despaired because buying merchandise—both Fanatics’ own and products it retails—did not satiate your appetite to do e-commerce with this company.
From Slate ● Mar. 7, 2025
The water became shallow—the boat scraped on stone—and she despaired of escaping.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
Crowther shares a few scraps of despairing, Plathian verse, but almost entirely neglects her unfinished posthumous memoir, published in 1974 as “My Story.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 25, 2026
As wars multiply, Pope Leo’s aides aren’t despairing about the possibilities of diplomacy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 2026
The angry, despairing look on team owner Lawrence Stroll's face in Bahrain said it all.
From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026
Dunk, though wounded and despairing of Baelor’s death, wins his trial and becomes a legend that characters in “A Song of Ice and Fire” recall as a true knight.
From Salon ● Feb. 25, 2026
She was despairing of ever getting it right when one morning there was gum under the pillow.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Vocabulary lists containing despair
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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A Long Walk to Water
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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