despair

To despair is to lose all hope. Despair can also be used as a noun meaning complete hopelessness.

Despair usually involves deep sadness and emotional pain about something that has happened or that hasn’t happened—something usually triggers the despair. This is especially the case in serious and very negative situations that involve finality, such as death or a devastating loss in a political election.

The verb despair implies that one is giving up—that they believe there is nothing more to be done to make things better. When someone says, “Don’t despair,” they’re telling you not to lose hope—to keep trying or to believe that things can improve.

When used as a verb, despair is sometimes followed by the word of and the thing for which hope has been lost, as in I have despaired of her ever coming back. 

Much less commonly, despair can be used as a noun referring to someone or something that causes despair, as in He is the despair of the nation. 

The word despairing can be used as an adjective to describe people who are experiencing despair or things that involve despair, as in a despairing look. 

Example: He was filled with despair at the sight of the scoreboard, which showed an insurmountable lead with only minutes left.

The first records of the word despair come from around 1300. It comes from the Latin verb dēspērāre, meaning “to be without hope” (the adjective desperate is based on the same root). Remember: at the heart of despair, there is hope—its ultimate root is the Latin root spēs, meaning “hope.”

You know the moment in the story when the hero loses all hope? In that moment, they are in despair. Despair is often seen as the lowest point, and it’s often used in the phrase the depths of despair—the rock bottom of hopelessness. Despair usually comes when it looks like there is no way out of what seems like a hopeless situation, or when it seems like there is no longer a way to win, succeed, or overcome evil. And yet, in many cases, hope springs eternal.

What are some other forms related to despair?

• despairing (continuous tense verb, adjective)
• despairer (noun)
• self-despair (noun)

What are some synonyms for despair?

• lose hope
• hopelessness
• desperation
• despondence
• anguish

What are some words that share a root or word element with despair? 

• desperate
• esperance

What are some words that often get used in discussing despair?

• depths
• death
• loss
• defeat
• gloom
• misery
• pain
• sadness
• sorrow
• hope

Despair is commonly used as both a verb and a noun. It’s usually used in the context of serious situations, such as the death of a loved one or some other painful loss.

“My child, do not despair. Do you think we would have brought you here if there were no hope? We are asking you to do a difficult thing, but we are confident that you can do it."
A Wrinkle in Time pic.twitter.com/pZvw5e6r3h

— Madeleine L'Engle (@MadeleineLEngle) November 1, 2020

People are worried, and scared, and hurting.

You are not alone.

You have friends, even friends you haven’t met yet.

Please do not despair. You are the beating heart of America.

As long as you strive, and persist, we can win together.

Stay strong. Love always wins. pic.twitter.com/dyS0xrsE7B

— Mela Storm #Resistance! NO SURRENDER (@StormMela) October 31, 2020

I watched Frozen without my two year old this morning. Despair reveals itself in many forms.

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) November 9, 2016

Which of the following words is a synonym of despair?

A. anguish
B. desperation
C. hopelessness
D. all of the above