despair of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "despair of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to a situation in which it appears that no positive outcome can be achieved, as in "the family despaired of ever finding a way out of their dire financial situation".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ought we to despair of utopias?

The New York Times

He seems to despair of himself daily.

The New Yorker

I do despair of politicians.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many despair of retrieving any money.

The New York Times

— do make you despair of American politics.

The New York Times - Books

"I despair of them," he added mournfully.

The Guardian - Books

Serious economists despair of these events.

The Guardian

It makes one despair of democracy to hear their speeches.

University of California, Berkeley

Despair of land, and drop into the main.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

There are times "when I despair of my brain;.

The New Yorker

Judge Fuller seems to despair of finding a way forward.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "despair of" when you want to convey a sense of hopelessness or loss of faith in a particular outcome or situation. It often implies that previous efforts have failed, leading to a feeling of resignation.

Common error

Avoid using "despair of" when a milder expression of disappointment or concern would be more appropriate. "Despair" implies a deep sense of hopelessness, so ensure the context warrants such a strong emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despair of" functions as a verb phrase followed by a preposition, indicating a state of hopelessness or loss of faith in a particular outcome or situation. It commonly suggests that previous efforts have been unsuccessful, leading to a sense of resignation, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

15%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "despair of" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to convey a sense of hopelessness or loss of faith in a particular outcome. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to express this strong feeling of hopelessness, often in neutral to formal contexts. It's most frequently found in news and media, as well as academic writing. While similar phrases like "lose faith in" or "give up hope for" can be used as alternatives, it's important to consider the intensity of the emotion you wish to convey, avoiding overstatement. Remember to use "despair of" when you want to emphasize a deep sense of resignation due to previous failures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give up hope for

This option emphasizes the act of ceasing to hope for a positive outcome.

abandon hope of

This phrase suggests a more definitive and conscious decision to relinquish hope.

lose faith in

This alternative focuses on the loss of belief or trust, rather than a feeling of hopelessness.

see no future in

This alternative focuses on the lack of potential or long-term prospects.

lose confidence in

This alternative suggests a decline in assurance or trust, rather than a feeling of hopelessness.

cease to believe in

This implies stopping the act of believing in someone or something.

have no expectation of

This alternative focuses on lacking anticipation of a positive result, without necessarily implying despair.

resign oneself to

This indicates acceptance of a negative outcome, often with a sense of disappointment.

be pessimistic about

This phrase indicates a general inclination to expect negative outcomes, rather than a specific instance of losing hope.

write off

This option is more informal and suggests dismissing something as unsuccessful or not worth considering.

FAQs

How to use "despair of" in a sentence?

You can use "despair of" to express a feeling of hopelessness about a particular situation, as in "They began to "despair of" ever finding a solution to the problem."

What can I say instead of "despair of"?

You can use alternatives like "lose faith in", "give up hope for", or "abandon hope of" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "despair of" or "despair at"?

"Despair of" is generally used to express hopelessness regarding a specific outcome or situation. "Despair at" is less common but can be used to express distress or disappointment about something. "They "despair of" ever finishing the project" vs. "They "despair at" the state of the world".

What's the difference between "despair of" and "the desperation of"?

"Despair of" is a verb phrase that expresses the action of losing hope, while "the desperation of" is a noun phrase that refers to the state of being desperate. For example, "I "despair of" ever seeing her again" expresses hopelessness, whereas "The desperation of" the refugees was evident expresses a state of extreme need or distress.