Collocations for "despair"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "despair" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
despair
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- [looked on, watched] in despair
- [looked on] in [complete, total, anxious] despair
- had a look of [total, complete] despair on his face
- felt nothing but despair
- (only) [did, said, mentioned, tried] it out of despair
- was [done] out of despair
- [fought, retaliated, argued] out of despair
- the despair of [having, witnessing, being, seeing, finding]
- [sank, fell, plunged] into (total) despair when
- fell into total despair [following, as a result of, after]
- the [loss, failure, bankruptcy] caused him much despair
- is [full of, loaded with, plagued by] despair
- a life of [hardships, misfortunes] and despair
- is the despair of her [teacher, parents, family]
- was despairing of (ever) [finding, being, getting]
- she despaired at the [idea, prospect, thought] (of)
- It's hard not to despair over the [idea] (of)
- despair of this [government, country]
- despair of [people, humanity]
- despair for the [youth, next generation]
'despair' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):