DESPAIRS Synonyms: 27 Similar and Opposite Words

despairs

verb

present tense third-person singular of despair

as in grieves

to lose all hope or confidence we despaired when we saw how little time we had left to complete our project

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of despairs In Osamu Dazai’s The Setting Sun, Kazuko despairs of the pain that her brother Naoji’s drug addiction and degenerate behavior have caused the family. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 As someone who regularly despairs over the choice between a sweet or savory breakfast meal, this was a godsend. — Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026 When Eva suddenly disappears without a trace, the priest despairs, leading him to commit a series of shocking and violent crimes. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for despairs

Verb

Pi-o grieves the death of his friend, unable to get out of bed for days.

— Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Kylie grieves over her comatose boyfriend, setting her on a journey to the English countryside in order to end the curse, and Antonia watches over Kylie’s beau in the hospital.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of grieves

Verb

In July, Netflix reported viewership increased just 2% in the first half of the year as the streamer suffers from a lack of shows with water-cooler-level hype.

— Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Dell didn't bother updating this part of the XPS 13 case for the Googlebook platform, and the system suffers for it.

— Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of suffers

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despairingly

despairs

desperado

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“Despairs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despairs. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of despairs

verb

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