Despair

Pronunciation: /dɪˈspɛr/

Despair (noun)

  1. a strong feeling that there is no hope and nothing can be done to improve a situation

Examples

  • She felt a deep despair after the news.
  • Despair filled the room when the results were announced.

Common collocations: deep despair, sense of despair, overcome by despair, begin to despair, not despair

Despair (verb)

  1. to stop believing that a situation will get better or that you can succeed

Examples

  • Do not despair, there is still a chance.
  • He began to despair after many failures.

Synonyms of Despair

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Antonyms of Despair

  • — Despair is the absence of hope.
  • — Despair contrasts with optimism.