despair

“There’s been a dramatic rise in their likelihood of despair and of ill mental health. The viability of their American Dream is at stake.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

After days of despair, he said he made a different choice — to survive.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

But remember, despair isn’t activism—it’s just another impediment to progress.

From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026

Many of the factors behind these deaths of despair, including addiction, poor diet and stress, also contribute to people spending more of their lives in ill health.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

The movie ended with George, overwhelmed by despair, calling up Margery’s ghostly image until he fell over dead himself.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

When her TV show is canceled, the actress does what you might predict given the movie’s exaggerated look and tone: She despairs at what she sees in the mirror and reaches for an outrageous solution.

From New York Times ● May 24, 2024

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

Pedro Sánchez, the contractor, who also holds the honorary post of mayor of San Bartolomé, likewise despairs of the weak dollar that has slowed construction.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2023

But without academic credentials, he despairs of ever getting published in a scholarly journal.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

But closer to the high-security perimeter, a crowd of worshippers despaired as police officers blocked their route.

From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026

After deep contemplation, she despaired, writing: “Nature’s silence is its one remark, and every flake of world is a chip off that old mute and immutable block.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026

In the early, chaotic days of the COVID-19 pandemic, transitional-kindergarten teacher Elizabeth Lam despaired.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 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

I feared for his life; I despaired that he should ever rise from his bed again; and I could not abide the hunger.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Parents, siblings and best friends are interviewed by Ms. Borgman, all singing the praises of the deceased but almost uniformly despairing of the results of the case, a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Tippett, a former NHS England boss who led on personalised care, told the BBC the result was "despairing".

From BBC ● May 19, 2026

Still, Ohm is more despairing and miserable than any of the wretched worms Scott has acted to date.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

But Nina soon found herself despairing, once she realized she could not leave her hiding place.

From Barron's ● Feb. 2, 2026

The very word begins to have a despairing and diabolical ring.

From "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin