despair

[dih-spair] / dɪˈspɛər /

NOUN

depression, hopelessness

Synonyms

STRONGEST

anguish desperation despondency discouragement gloom melancholy misery pain sorrow

STRONG

dejection disheartenment forlornness ordeal trial tribulation wretchedness

WEAK

dashed hopes

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheer comfort contentment encouragement happiness joy pleasure

STRONG

peace

WEAK

cheerfulness confidence faith hopefulness joyfulness trust

VERB

give up hope

Synonyms

STRONG

abandon despond destroy drop flatten relinquish renounce resign surrender yield

WEAK

be hopeless give way have heavy heart let air out lose faith lose heart take down

Antonyms

STRONG

keep pursue

WEAK

anticipate expect have faith hope wish for

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hawthorne told the BBC: "People often walk in this place in despair, we see it in their eyes and their demeanour and they sniff hope."

From BBC

The four young women never meet, yet they share a sense of despair.

From Los Angeles Times

In the photo released by the White House, Armstrong is sobbing, her mouth hanging open in despair.

From Los Angeles Times

“Fear, anger, despair,” William J. Mann writes: “A year into the peace, these were the fruits of the war.”

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s not that people weren’t reeling from the economic upheaval; they were also reeling from five years of death, disruption and despair.

From Salon