Synonyms for despairing

Most common

hopeless · desperate · despondent · cheerless

All synonyms

Adjective

Antonyms

optimistic

All antonyms of despairing →

Definitions

1. adj. 1

   Feeling, expressing, or caused by despair; hopeless.

Example sentences

• desperate Sami was desperate to keep his family above water.
• hopeless Lee did not agree that the situation was hopeless.
• heartbroken William heard the confession and felt heartbroken.
• despondent Millions of Russians feel cheated and despondent.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

7 letters

forlorn²

8 letters

hopeless²

9 letters

desperate², cheerless

10 letters

despondent³

11 letters

heartbroken³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (forlorn² = 2 syllables).