Word
despairing
Phoneticsde·spair·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈspɛɹɪŋ/
UK/dɪspˈeəɹɪŋ/
Definition
adj. feeling that nothing good can happen and there is no hope left. You feel this when a situation seems completely hopeless.
adj. feeling or showing a complete loss of hope; believing that a situation cannot improve. Often describes cries, attempts, or expressions made in hopelessness.
Examples
“She feels despairing after losing her job.”
“After months without work, he sends despairing messages to friends asking for help.”
“The rescue teams worked through the night despite the despairing silence that followed each unanswered call from beneath the rubble.”
Examples
simple
“She feels despairing after losing her job.”
contextual
“After months without work, he sends despairing messages to friends asking for help.”
complex
“The rescue teams worked through the night despite the despairing silence that followed each unanswered call from beneath the rubble.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “despairing” in context.
Verb
01. become despairing
“He became despairing after months without work or news.”
verb + adj
02. despairing parent
“A despairing parent waited outside the hospital for news.”
adj + noun
03. despairing patient
“The despairing patient asked the doctor for honest answers.”
adj + noun
04. feel despairing
“Many students feel despairing before difficult exams without support.”
verb + adj
05. grow despairing
“She grew despairing as the negotiations collapsed again.”
verb + adj
Adjective
06. deeply despairing
“She was deeply despairing when the rescue team stopped the search.”
adv + adj
07. increasingly despairing
“As the drought continued, villagers became increasingly despairing.”
adv + adj
Noun
08. despairing attempt
“They made a despairing attempt to save the burning house.”
adj + noun
09. despairing cry
“He let out a despairing cry when he heard the result.”
adj + noun
10. despairing look
“She gave him a despairing look and walked away.”
adj + noun
11. despairing plea
“The letter was a despairing plea for financial help.”
adj + noun
12. in increasingly despairing voice
“She spoke in an increasingly despairing voice about her job.”
Usage
Often used predicatively after 'feel' or 'seem' and attributively before nouns like 'cry', 'look', or 'attempt'.
Real-World Examples
“The Chelsea winger rolled a confident finish past Pickford’s despairing dive into the bottom corner.” “K-pop singer Koo Hara was found dead in her home on Sunday and the police found a handwritten note despairing about her life.” “My year of unraveling" is how a despairing Christy Morrill described nightmarish months when his immune system hijacked his brain.” Etymology
From Middle English despeyringe, equivalent to despair + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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