despair

Meanings

• Noun

  A feeling of sadness, hopelessness, and helplessness.

  - "He felt despair when he received the news of his mother's death."
  - "The novel explores the themes of love and despair."

• Verb

  To feel or show great sadness, especially over a prolonged period.

  - "She despaired of ever finding a job."
  - "He despairs of the future of our planet."

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Pronunciation

1. /dɪˈspɛəɹ/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1676735"

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Antonyms

hope

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Synonyms

desperation , despondency , hopelessness

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with despair
repair , repair , repare , stare , bare , fare , square , scare

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Variants

List of all variants of despair that leads to same result
despair , despairs , despaired , despairer , despairers , despairing , self-despair , self-despairs

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From Old French despaire 'to lack', from des- 'apart, away from' + espérer 'to hope'.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. Despair is a common theme in Shakespeare's works, such as Hamlet and Macbeth.

2. The word despair comes from the Old French despaire, which means 'to lack hope'.

3. Despair is often depicted as a person or a figure in art and literature, such as the Despair figure in Rodin's sculpture 'The Thinker'.

4. Despair is a common emotion experienced during grief, especially in the early stages.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. Depression: Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of energy. While despair is an emotion, depression is a disorder that requires professional treatment.

2. Grief: Grief is the emotional response to loss, which can include feelings of despair. Grief is a natural response to loss and can take time to heal.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. On the occasion of Johnson's tercentenary, Martin ({it}A Life of James Boswell{/it}) searches out the psychological elements covered up by Boswell and others: the immense insecurities, bouts of deep depression, corrosive self-doubt and, in his last days, "despair" for his very soul.

   - {it}Publishers Weekly{/it},21 July 2008

2. Players who'd been on the 2004 Olympic team joked about whether their two bronze medals equaled one silver. There was none of the "despair" or finger-pointing that followed the world championships in '02, when Team USA finished sixth.

   - Kelly Anderson,{it}Sports Illustrated{/it},11 Sept. 2006

3. The people who try to save endangered species in Hawaii are immune to "despair". They have to be, to keep doing what they do.

   - Lawrence Downes,{it}New York Times{/it},19 Dec. 2004

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

Despair is a common theme in literature, music, and art, often used to express deep sadness, loss, or hopelessness. It has been depicted in various forms, such as Edvard Munch's painting 'The Scream', which symbolizes the intense emotional state of despair.

How to Memorize "despair"

1. visualize
   

   - To visualize despair, imagine a heavy burden or weight in your chest, making it difficult to breathe or move. This feeling of being weighed down can help you understand the emotional depth of despair.

2. associate
   

   - To memorize despair, associate it with a strong emotional experience, such as the loss of a loved one or a personal failure. This emotional connection can help you remember the meaning of the word.

3. mnemonics
   

   - To create a mnemonic for despair, remember the acronym 'Deep Sadness Holds People' to help you remember the definition: Despair = Deep Sadness Holds People

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