despair

The word “despair” has 2 syllables: de-spair

It's pronounced as /dɪˈspɛr/

What is synonym and antonym for despair?

In the thesaurus, “despair” has 82 synonyms and 54 antonyms.

Here are synonyms and antonyms for despair along with examples of usage in sentences.

Synonyms for despair

abandon
acceptance
agonize
agony
anguish
be hopeless
bleed
blue devils
blues
cynicism
darken
dashed hopes
defeatism
dejection
demoralization
depression
desolation
desperation
despond
despondence
despondency
destroy
disconsolateness
discourage
discouragement
dishearten
disheartenment
dismay
dispirit
dispiritedness
distress
doldrums
dolefulness
dolor
downheartedness
dreariness
drop
dumps
flatten
forlornness
give up
give way
gloom
gloominess
grieve
have heavy heart
hopelessness
hurt
joylessness
let air out
lose faith
lose heart
melancholy
misery
mopes
mourn
mournfulness
oppression
ordeal
pain
pessimism
relinquish
renounce
resign
resignation
sadden
sadness
self-despair
self-pity
slough of despond
sorrow
sorrowfulness
suffer
surrender
take down
trial
tribulation
unhappiness
woe
woefulness
wretchedness
yield

Antonyms for despair

anticipate
assure
bliss
blissfulness
brighten
cheer
cheerfulness
comfort
confidence
contentment
ecstasy
elatedness
elation
encourage
encouragement
euphoria
exhilaration
expect
exuberance
exult
exultation
faith
gaiety
gladness
glee
gleefulness
happiness
have faith
hearten
hope
hopefulness
jollity
joviality
joy
joyfulness
joyousness
jubilation
keep
lightheartedness
merriment
mirth
mirthfulness
optimism
peace
pleasure
pursue
rapture
rapturousness
reassure
rejoice
sanguinity
sunniness
trust
wish for

Meanings of despair

noun
1. Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
2. That which causes despair.
3. That which is despaired of.
verb
1. To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of.
2. To cause to despair.
3. (often with “of”) To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or expectation.

Example Sentences

He fell into despair after losing his job.
She cried in despair when she heard the news.
The long struggle left them feeling deep despair.
He tried not to give in to despair despite the difficulties.
There was a sense of despair in his voice.

On this page you'll find 136 synonyms, antonyms, or another words to despair, such as: abandon, acceptance, agonize, agony, anguish, anticipate, assure.

Make sure to choose synonyms and antonyms that are appropriate for the context of the sentence.