despair with

USAGE SUMMARY

Using it.
The phrase 'despair with' is not actually a correct part of a sentence in standard written English. You could use the phrase 'despair of', which has a similar meaning. For example, "He despaired of ever finding a job in this tough economy."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Throughout, Portia responds to McDermott's intense energy and despair with stoicism.

The New Yorker

"It matters that penelope Vade died in despair, with no faith left in human life".

The New Yorker

Dark moods mean less demand generally, but snack trade in particular views despair with alarm.

The New Yorker

He anatomizes despair with the droll familiarity of someone who expects to be stuck there awhile.

The New York Times

Our melancholic despair with democratic institutions is to be celebrated, not mourned.

The Guardian - Opinion

It promises, on the flap, to "fill your bottomless well of despair with belly-clutching laughter".

The New Yorker

Arnold Bezuyen as Erik was equally uneven but conveyed his despair with some blistering high notes.

The Guardian - Music

She has found a way to show cold-blooded despair with tenderness.

The New York Times - Arts

"I am in deepest despair with no movement possible in any direction," Firestone wrote to Laya some weeks later.

The New Yorker

The tone of the songs' delivery segues from sprightly innocence to a darker despair, with undertones of squalor and sordidness.

The New York Times

Voters backed him at least partly out of despair with the former Labor government and its debilitating leadership wars.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "despair with" appears in numerous publications, consider using "despair of", "despair over", or "disillusionment with" for more grammatically sound and precise writing. Ensure your word choice aligns with the intended emotional weight.

Common error

Avoid using "despair with" when "despair of" or other prepositions more accurately convey the intended meaning. Using the incorrect preposition can obscure your message and detract from your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "despair with" functions as a descriptor of an emotional state, often used to convey a sense of hopelessness or frustration in conjunction with a particular situation or entity. Despite its usage, Ludwig AI suggests that it's grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "despair with" is used to express feelings of hopelessness or frustration. While prevalent in various sources, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically questionable, recommending alternatives like "despair of" or "disillusionment with" for more accurate and credible writing. Although it appears frequently, especially in News & Media, a conscious effort to opt for grammatically sound options can enhance clarity and professionalism in writing. Exercise caution when using "despair with" in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

despair about

Changes the preposition to 'about', focusing the despair on a specific subject.

despair over

Replaces 'with' with 'over', indicating sorrow or hopelessness regarding a particular situation.

disillusionment with

Substitutes "despair" with "disillusionment", emphasizing disappointment after a loss of faith or ideals.

frustration with

Replaces "despair" with "frustration", suggesting a sense of annoyance and impatience due to unmet goals or obstacles.

lose hope in

Replaces "despair with" with "lose hope in", indicating a complete abandonment of optimism.

lose faith in

Emphasizes a decline in trust or confidence in something or someone.

give up on

Indicates ceasing to believe in the possibility of success or improvement.

be despondent about

Expresses a state of low spirits and hopelessness concerning a situation or topic.

melancholy regarding

Conveys a reflective sadness or pensiveness about something.

pessimistic about

Indicates a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen.

FAQs

Is "despair with" grammatically correct?

While found in some publications, "despair with" is generally considered grammatically questionable. Alternatives like "despair of" or "disillusionment with" are usually preferred.

What are some alternatives to "despair with"?

Consider using phrases like "despair of", "disillusionment with", or "frustration with" to express similar sentiments with greater grammatical accuracy.

When is it appropriate to use "despair with"?

While not strictly correct, "despair with" might be used in informal contexts. However, formal writing benefits from more precise and grammatically sound alternatives.

How does "despair with" differ from "despair of"?

"Despair of" suggests a loss of hope regarding something specific, while "despair with" (though less common and grammatically debated) might imply despair concurrent with something else. Using "despair of" provides clarity.