despaired

verb

past tense of despair
as in grieved
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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Example Sentences

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 despaired Some party leaders despaired over Platner’s chances to win even before allegations about previous relationships began to surface. — Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 Benjamin killed himself at the French-Spanish border in 1940, having despaired of his chances of escaping the Nazis. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 In 2014, the party despaired at the success of the Koch donor network — decades of right-wing philanthropy that paid off in the tea party movement. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 10 June 2026 In her interview, Guthrie also despaired over the possibility that her fame could have made her mother a target for kidnappers, Page Six also reported. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026 The Herald’s competitors despaired of ever competing with that paper’s speedy acquisition of news, and one, the Journal of Commerce, eventually gave up and created a cooperative agreement with the Herald that would become instrumental in the creation of the Associated Press. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026 Democrats rejoiced; Republicans despaired. — Kevin Igoe, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2026 The news of her 23-year-old son’s execution shocked and despaired the world. — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025 Anyone who ever despaired about their outstanding mortgage remaining virtually static despite months of repayments will relate. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despaired
  1. grieved
  2. suffered
  3. mourned
Verb
  • The family grieved quietly, rarely speaking to one another about what happened, Phan said.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • We are further grieved by continuing violence and instability in the Middle East, including the recent conflict involving Iran and its widening humanitarian consequences.
    — Killingly-Brooklyn Interfaith Council, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
Definition of grieved
Verb
  • The existing cottage previously suffered from significant structural problems, including cracks in its exterior walls.
    — Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Phineas Gage, an American railroad construction foreman, suffered a traumatic brain injury when an iron rod was driven through his head, destroying much of his brain’s left frontal lobe.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of suffered
Verb
  • Heads of state, parents of book recipients, music fans, movie fans and, like me, women who felt blessed to have had such a glamorous role model publicly mourned the loss.
    — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, Jack White, every living president, Jane Fonda, and countless more have all mourned the beloved star.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of mourned

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despair
despaired
despairing
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Cite this Entry

“Despaired.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despaired. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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