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despair

/dɪˈspɛə(ɹ)/verb

To lose all hope or stop expecting anything good.

Example sentences

  • “Don't despair — there's still time to fix the mistake.”
  • “Many farmers began to despair as the drought dragged on into summer.”

The noun is more common: 'in despair'. As a verb it takes 'of': to despair of ever finishing.

Synonyms for despair

  • lose hope
  • give up

Antonyms

  • hope

Related words