Despairing: meaning, definitions and examples

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despairing

 

[ dɪˈspɛrɪŋ ]

Adjective / Verb
Context #1 | Adjective

feeling hopeless or discouraged

Despairing is used to describe someone who is feeling deep sadness, hopelessness, or discouragement. It often implies a sense of giving up or feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions.

Synonyms

dejected, discouraged, hopeless

Examples of usage

  • I could see the despairing look in her eyes.
  • He let out a despairing sigh as he realized the magnitude of the situation.
Context #2 | Verb

to lose all hope or confidence

When someone is despairing, they have lost all hope or confidence in a situation or outcome. It often involves a deep sense of sadness and resignation.

Synonyms

give up, lose hope, surrender

Examples of usage

  • She was despairing of ever finding true love.
  • He was despairing that he would never achieve his dreams.

Translations

Translations of the word "despairing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desesperado

🇮🇳 निराशाजनक

🇩🇪 verzweifelt

🇮🇩 putus asa

🇺🇦 відчайдушний

🇵🇱 zrozpaczony

🇯🇵 絶望的な (zetsubō-teki na)

🇫🇷 désespéré

🇪🇸 desesperado

🇹🇷 umutsuz

🇰🇷 절망적인 (jeolmangjeog-in)

🇸🇦 يائس

🇨🇿 zoufalý

🇸🇰 zúfalý

🇨🇳 绝望的 (juéwàng de)

🇸🇮 obupan

🇮🇸 örvæntingarfullur

🇰🇿 үмітсіз

🇬🇪 უიმედო

🇦🇿 ümidsiz

🇲🇽 desesperado

Etymology

The word 'despairing' originated from the Old French word 'desesperer', which means 'to be without hope'. Over time, the meaning evolved to convey a sense of deep sadness and hopelessness. The concept of despair has been explored in various works of literature and philosophy, highlighting the profound impact it can have on individuals.

See also: despair, desperate.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,123, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.