|
|
de·spair
 despair
- pronunciation:
- dih
speIr
- parts of speech:
- noun, intransitive verb
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
the state of being completely without hope.
After days of waiting to be rescued, the trapped hikers were in despair.
- synonyms:
- hopelessness
- antonyms:
- beatitude, hope, optimism
- similar words:
- cynicism, defeatism, discouragement, disillusion, dismay, pessimism, resignation
|
| definition 2: |
that which induces hopelessness.
The lazy boy was the despair of his parents.- antonyms:
- hope, joy
- similar words:
- affliction, bane, burden, cross, curse, nemesis, scourge, trial, tribulation
|
| related words: |
calamity, gloom, melancholy, mourning, travail, woe |
|
|
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
despaired, despairing, despairs |
| definition: |
to lose or abandon all hope concerning something (usu. fol. by of).
Her son went to sea and she despaired of ever seeing him again.- synonyms:
- despond
- similar words:
- surrender, yield
|
| related words: |
gloom, worry |
|
|