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Definition of despairing

despairing

/dɪˈspɛrɪŋ/
de · spair · ing
Adverb:despairingly
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despairing Lexical Profile

despairing Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Feeling, showing, or expressing the complete loss or absence of hope.

Example

"She let out a despairing sigh after realizing that the final train of the evening had already departed."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for despairing

• Nearby Words

desoto
desoto falls
despair
despairing
despairingly
desperado
desperate

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the verb despair, which entered Middle English via Old French desperer, from Latin desperare ('to lose hope'), combining de- ('away from') and sperare ('to hope').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Despairing. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/despairing
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