despair
5 synonyms and 0 antonyms for despair, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A total loss of hope.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use despair
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French desperer, from Latin desperare, "to lose hope" — from de- + sperare ("to hope"). Related to "desperate."
Full origin of despair →Frequently asked questions
What does “despair” mean?
The word “despair” means a total loss of hope. In plain terms, complete hopelessness, or the act of giving up all hope.
How do you pronounce “despair”?
“Despair” is pronounced dih-SPEH-uh (/dɪˈspɛɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “despair” in a sentence?
Here is “despair” used in a sentence: “She was filled with despair after losing her job for the third time.”
What part of speech is “despair”?
Depending on how it is used, “despair” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “despair” come from?
The word “despair” comes from Latin. From Old French desperer, from Latin desperare, "to lose hope" — from de- + sperare ("to hope"). Related to "desperate.".
Is “despair” a common word?
“Despair” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “despair” have?
“Despair” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a total loss of hope.
What is the difference between despair and depression?
Despair refers to a total loss of hope, often triggered by a specific situation, while depression is a broader emotional or clinical state that can include sadness, low energy, and hopelessness over time. Despair can be a feeling within depression, but the two words are not interchangeable.
Is despair a noun or a verb?
Despair functions as both. As a noun it means a total loss of hope, as in "a sense of despair," and as a verb it means to lose all hope, as in "do not despair."
What is the difference between despair and desperation?
Despair centers on hopelessness itself, while desperation implies a state of recklessness or urgency that often results from despair. Someone in despair has given up hope, whereas someone in desperation may still act, often rashly, because of that hopelessness.