despair

noun
UK: /dɪˈspeər/
US: /dɪˈsper/

  1. The feeling of having no hope.

    1. There was despair in his eyes after he lost his job.
    2. She felt a sense of despair when the doctor gave her the diagnosis.

  2. A situation in which there is no hope.

    1. The flood victims were living in utter despair after the disaster.
    2. The team's despair deepened as they faced a series of defeats.

Synonyms

lose heart gloom desperation give up anguish
despair intransitive-verb

  1. To lose all hope.

    1. Don't despair! Things will get better soon, I promise you.
    2. Although he was injured, he didn't despair and continued to fight.

  2. To feel that something is very bad and will never improve.

    1. I despair at the state of modern education after the pandemic.
    2. She began to despair of ever finding a job after so many rejections.
despair transitive-verb

  1. To lose hope about (something).

    1. Many people despair the loss of the local library.
    2. We must never despair our ability to solve climate change.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "despair" in English means: The feeling of having no hope., A situation in which there is no hope..

The phonetic transcription of "despair" is /dɪˈspeər/ in British English and /dɪˈsper/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "despair": lose heart, gloom, desperation, give up, anguish.

Example usage of "despair": "There was despair in his eyes after he lost his job.". More examples on the page.