Despair
noun
A strong feeling of losing hope or being without hope.
He felt complete despair when he lost his job.
Often appears as...
- despair of human nature
- in utter despair
verb
To stop having any hope or belief that a situation will improve or change.
She was beginning to despair of ever knowing the truth.
Often appears as...
- despair at the thought
- despair of success
noun
The act or state of despairing.
In his despair, he turned to drinking.
Often appears as...
- despair at life
- despair at the future
noun
A strong feeling of losing hope or being without hope.
He felt complete despair when he lost his job.
Often appears as...
- despair of human nature
- in utter despair
verb
To stop having any hope or belief that a situation will improve or change.
She was beginning to despair of ever knowing the truth.
Often appears as...
- despair at the thought
- despair of success
noun
The act or state of despairing.
In his despair, he turned to drinking.
Often appears as...
- despair at life
- despair at the future
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Weight
Despair conveys a deep, often overwhelming emotion, more intense than just sadness or discouragement.
He was in such despair that he couldn't find the will to get out of bed.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Permanent
Though strong, despair is an emotion that someone may eventually overcome, even if it seems all-encompassing at the time.
After months of despair, she found a new job that lifted her spirits.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Expression
Expression of despair can vary by culture; in some, it may be private, while in others, more open.
His despair was evident to everyone as he spoke publicly about his struggles.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Weight
Despair conveys a deep, often overwhelming emotion, more intense than just sadness or discouragement.
He was in such despair that he couldn't find the will to get out of bed.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Permanent
Though strong, despair is an emotion that someone may eventually overcome, even if it seems all-encompassing at the time.
After months of despair, she found a new job that lifted her spirits.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Expression
Expression of despair can vary by culture; in some, it may be private, while in others, more open.
His despair was evident to everyone as he spoke publicly about his struggles.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Weight
Despair conveys a deep, often overwhelming emotion, more intense than just sadness or discouragement.
He was in such despair that he couldn't find the will to get out of bed.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Permanent
Though strong, despair is an emotion that someone may eventually overcome, even if it seems all-encompassing at the time.
After months of despair, she found a new job that lifted her spirits.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Expression
Expression of despair can vary by culture; in some, it may be private, while in others, more open.
His despair was evident to everyone as he spoke publicly about his struggles.
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Video examples
How memories form and...
The exact reason remains unclear, but experts suspect that social interaction gives our brain a mental workout. Just like muscle strength, we have to use our brain or risk losing it. But don't despair. There are several steps you can take to aid your brain in preserving your memories.
Video examples
Making the impossible...
hard enough to stay alive incident with arms and he said if I could die I would because now I'm gonna be such a burden to my family look everybody here has experienced despair before but can you imagine actually wanting to be dead because you don't want to be a pain to
Video examples
Bryan Stevenson: We need...
We have seven million people on probation and parole. And mass incarceration, in my judgment, has fundamentally changed our world. In poor communities, in communities of color, there is this despair, there is this hopelessness that is being shaped by these outcomes.
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
A hospital admission followed, the first of many, a diagnosis of schizophrenia came next, and then, worst of all, a toxic, tormenting sense of hopelessness, humiliation and despair about myself and my prospects. But having been encouraged to see the voice
Video examples
Can you solve the...
No marking the boxes, shouting, nothing. If each one of you can find your own instrument, then you can play tonight. Otherwise, the label is dropping you. You have three minutes to think about it before we start. The band is in despair.
Video examples
There's more to life...
And according to the research, what predicts this despair is not a lack of happiness. It's a lack of something else, a lack of having meaning in life. But that raised some questions for me. Is there more to life than being happy?
Video examples
The violin, and my dark...
playing my life. I might look successful and happy being in front of you today, but I once suffered from severe depression and was in total despair. The violin, which meant everything to me, became a grave burden on me.
Video examples
Sewer Diving PIPE National...
if anything happens don't despair I'll be the one to make decisions we will be very safe is Carlos's life so we will be careful Carlos has no idea what to expect Julio's team alone has hauled out more
Video examples
Saving Hawaii’s Birds...
This is a call to action. This is depressing news. But again, we don't have time to wallow in despair. This just has to be like, okay, time to get going.
Video examples
Sting: How I started...
More loneliness than any man could bear Rescue me before I fall into despair I'll send an S.O.S. to the world I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
Video examples
How memories form and...
The exact reason remains unclear, but experts suspect that social interaction gives our brain a mental workout. Just like muscle strength, we have to use our brain or risk losing it. But don't despair. There are several steps you can take to aid your brain in preserving your memories.
Video examples
Making the impossible...
hard enough to stay alive incident with arms and he said if I could die I would because now I'm gonna be such a burden to my family look everybody here has experienced despair before but can you imagine actually wanting to be dead because you don't want to be a pain to
Video examples
Bryan Stevenson: We need...
We have seven million people on probation and parole. And mass incarceration, in my judgment, has fundamentally changed our world. In poor communities, in communities of color, there is this despair, there is this hopelessness that is being shaped by these outcomes.
Video examples
The voices in my head PIPE...
A hospital admission followed, the first of many, a diagnosis of schizophrenia came next, and then, worst of all, a toxic, tormenting sense of hopelessness, humiliation and despair about myself and my prospects. But having been encouraged to see the voice
Video examples
Can you solve the...
No marking the boxes, shouting, nothing. If each one of you can find your own instrument, then you can play tonight. Otherwise, the label is dropping you. You have three minutes to think about it before we start. The band is in despair.
Video examples
There's more to life...
And according to the research, what predicts this despair is not a lack of happiness. It's a lack of something else, a lack of having meaning in life. But that raised some questions for me. Is there more to life than being happy?
Video examples
The violin, and my dark...
playing my life. I might look successful and happy being in front of you today, but I once suffered from severe depression and was in total despair. The violin, which meant everything to me, became a grave burden on me.
Video examples
Sewer Diving PIPE National...
if anything happens don't despair I'll be the one to make decisions we will be very safe is Carlos's life so we will be careful Carlos has no idea what to expect Julio's team alone has hauled out more
Video examples
Saving Hawaii’s Birds...
This is a call to action. This is depressing news. But again, we don't have time to wallow in despair. This just has to be like, okay, time to get going.
Video examples
Sting: How I started...
More loneliness than any man could bear Rescue me before I fall into despair I'll send an S.O.S. to the world I'll send an S.O.S. to the world
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Aeschylus
Greek Poet
He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.
Quote examples
John Shelby Spong
American Clergyman
Terrorism is a real despair. These are people for whom life has been so negative that they're willing to die if they can take down some of their enemies.
Quote examples
Thich Nhat Hanh
Vietnamese Clergyman
When you have peace in yourself and accept, then you are calm enough to do something, but if you are carried by despair, there is no hope.
Quote examples
J. B. Priestley
British Writer
If we openly declare what is wrong with us, what is our deepest need, then perhaps the death and despair will by degrees disappear.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
Now, God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness, comfort in despair.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
We cannot despair of humanity, since we ourselves are human beings.
Quote examples
Theodor W. Adorno
German Philosopher
But he who dies in despair has lived his whole life in vain.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
There is no love of life without despair of life.
Quote examples
Jean-Paul Sartre
French Philosopher
Life begins on the other side of despair.
Quote examples
Thomas Fuller
English Clergyman
Despair gives courage to a coward.
Quote examples
Aeschylus
Greek Poet
He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.
Quote examples
John Shelby Spong
American Clergyman
Terrorism is a real despair. These are people for whom life has been so negative that they're willing to die if they can take down some of their enemies.
Quote examples
Thich Nhat Hanh
Vietnamese Clergyman
When you have peace in yourself and accept, then you are calm enough to do something, but if you are carried by despair, there is no hope.
Quote examples
J. B. Priestley
British Writer
If we openly declare what is wrong with us, what is our deepest need, then perhaps the death and despair will by degrees disappear.
Quote examples
William Shakespeare
English Playwright
Now, God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness, comfort in despair.
Quote examples
Albert Einstein
German Physicist
We cannot despair of humanity, since we ourselves are human beings.
Quote examples
Theodor W. Adorno
German Philosopher
But he who dies in despair has lived his whole life in vain.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
There is no love of life without despair of life.
Quote examples
Jean-Paul Sartre
French Philosopher
Life begins on the other side of despair.
Quote examples
Thomas Fuller
English Clergyman
Despair gives courage to a coward.
Example 1 of 10
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