I. noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
a cry of pain/despair/delight etc
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A rock was loose and he fell with a sharp cry of surprise.
a mood of optimism/despair/excitement etc
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There is a new mood of optimism.
a pit of despair
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Just thinking about the future plunged her into a pit of despair .
drive sb to despair/desperation (= make someone despair )
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Escalating personal debts have driven many people to despair.
in the depths of despair
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She was in the depths of despair .
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ ADJECTIVE
close
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Earlier in the day, I had been close to despair .
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At the end of two weeks she was tired, frustrated, and close to despair .
deep
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On this heady diet we move from intoxicating anticipation to deep despair .
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Seeing only these two possible alternatives, she was filled with a deep despair about ever having a life worth living.
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Chrissie felt a moment's deep despair as she stared at her husband and realised, again, that he was slipping.
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Friends fear that being dumped by Dan after just three months could plunge depressed Mel into deeper despair .
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Many parents experience deep pain and despair about their teenage children.
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These lonely hours may be the time he reaches his deepest despair .
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Gabriel forgot his own sadness when he saw the bitterness and deep despair on the farmer's face.
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Do not be lost in the deep darkness of despair and hopelessness.
utter
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Evelyn had never experienced such utter despair .
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The recollection induced in Converse a sense of utter despair which he found soothing.
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There aren't the words. Utter despair .
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He tried for years without success until finally, in utter despair , he threw himself into the kiln.
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The tears came, and rapidly dissolved her angry expression to one of utter despair .
■ VERB
cry
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Ruth cried out in despair as his mouth and tongue teased her feminine core.
feel
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For the first time, she felt total despair weld her to the spot.
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They felt that the despair long antedated the neoplasms and that their becoming fatally ill merely confirmed what they already believed.
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She felt cheated, when she should have felt despair .
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Utterly without designs, equipment, opportunities, he felt incapable of despair .
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I felt swamped with liquefying despair , weak enough for tears.
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I could feel the despair and anger behind me.
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She felt a gust of despair .
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I felt sadness, despair , and a bitter rage.
shake
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Ruth stood shaking with despair and indecision.
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Stephen shook his head in despair and held out his hand.
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Christie shook his head in despair .
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She shook her head in despair , but said nothing.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
be the picture of health/innocence/despair etc
plumb the depths (of despair/misery/bad taste etc)
the jaws of death/defeat/despair etc
▪
The shocked priority of examining herself after escaping, literally, from the jaws of death, wore off.
wallow in self-pity/despair/defeat etc
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Ego takes great pleasure in wallowing in self-pity, and defending itself against all charges, whatever the cost to others.
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Look at the criticism for any opportunity to learn from it and to change, without wallowing in self-pity.
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What hope can they have, if they see you slumping about like a filleted herring, wallowing in self-pity?
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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Dan was in despair . Everything seemed to be going wrong.
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He gazed at the confusion around him and was overwhelmed by a feeling of despair .
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I could see hunger, exhaustion and despair in their eyes.
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I could understand her despair at her homelessness.
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It seems that he had reached the depths of despair , and he finally took his own life.
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Left all alone in her room, she was in despair .
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Separation from someone you love can bring loneliness and despair .
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There was a mood of despair about the quality of urban and industrial life.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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A cry of despair was turned into a Declaration for Democracy.
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As noted above, the Potion of Healing and the Amulet of Coal can also cause despair .
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Once, in a moment of despair , he snapped his Bible shut and squashed them to a paste.
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Strong words which no one would contradict with confidence, even if despair was regarded as an emotion which should never be admitted.
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The Raiders are realizing the depth of their despair , caused by losing three of their first four games.
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The tears came, and rapidly dissolved her angry expression to one of utter despair .
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They often remain in a state of despair that the world at large and their nearest friends and relatives treat them so badly.
II. verb
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ VERB
drive
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Those who no longer wish to disregard the insidious pollution and degradation of the environment are driven to despair .
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Apart from any sentimental reasons, the short-notice drove many to despair .
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The thought drove him to despair and drink.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
be the picture of health/innocence/despair etc
the jaws of death/defeat/despair etc
▪
The shocked priority of examining herself after escaping, literally, from the jaws of death, wore off.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
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He glared at her, despairing.
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Kate despaired of ever seeing her husband again.
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You mustn't despair . Nothing is impossible.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
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In fact, there is no reason for aging boomers to despair .
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Many physicists find themselves despairing of ever finding such a picture.
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The music soothed her for a while but the needle stuck in a groove suddenly and she wept in response, despairing.
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They despaired even more at his campaigning techniques.