despair

"It's absolutely heartbreaking. It really is emotionally devastating, because it's utter despair: no more lake," said amateur local historian David Favre, who lives in the Swiss village of Les Brenets.

From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026

The poles of triumph and despair are the terrain of writers such as Charles Dickens—or, as Sam Sacks notes, the novelist Barbara Kingsolver.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

But even “A Different World” hit its limits when it plunged the audience inside the Black folks’ shock and despair after the 1992 Los Angeles uprising.

From Salon ● Sep. 24, 2026

The party has only recently rolled out training for its MPs on making social videos, something senior figures despair at.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

“She is not here yet,” Lady Constance cried, throwing her arms wide in despair.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Now 27, she despairs when hearing another Cornell president talk about reforming the Greek system.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

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

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

Still, he kept laboring toward a perfection he didn’t always reach but never despaired of reaching.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026

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

From Barron's ● Jun. 7, 2026

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

I despaired of ever making a lady of her.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

“Sam tells stories about quietly despairing people seeking to survive in our bleak world,” Flynn responded via email.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Despite facing notable challenges and coming of age in a culture infected by “big woe,” or an onslaught of despairing information, Moore believes there is still reason for young people to be optimistic.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

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

Tyler Smith made a despairing dive to try to block his shot but the assistant referee raised his flag immediately to signal the goal.

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2026

Yossarian threw his arms up into the air in a gesture of mighty and despairing self recrimination.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller