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despair - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'despair' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Despair [ n.]
- Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
- That which is despaired of.
2 . Despair [ v. i.]
- To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation; -- often with of.
3 . Despair [ v. t.]
- To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
- To cause to despair.

Meaning of 'despair' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . despair [ n]
Meaning (1):
- a state in which all hope is lost or absent
Example in sentence:
  • courage born of desperation;
  • in the depths of despair;
  • they were rescued from despair at the last minute
Meaning (2):
- the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well
Example in sentence:
  • one harsh word would send her into the depths of despair;
  • they moaned in despair and dismay
3 . despair [ v]
Meaning (3):
- abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart
Example in sentence:
  • Don't despair--help is on the way!

Nearby Words:

descant descanted descanter descanting descend descendant descended descendent descender descendibility

See 'despair' also in:

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Related Definitions

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    According to Erikson, a period from late adulthood until death during which we review life’s accomplishments and failures. This stage is called

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