Cool MateDespair vs Hope is lost
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Despair
Top 2,000 (common)
Hope is lost
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Despair
| Despair | Hope is lost | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪsˈpeə//🇺🇸 //dɪsˈpɛr// | 🇬🇧 //həʊp ɪz lɒst//🇺🇸 //hoʊp ɪz lɔst// |
| Meaning | a feeling of great sadness and hopelessness | When there is no more hope. |
| Example | She fell into deep __________ after losing her job. | After years of searching, she felt that all hope is lost. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| Collocations | deep despair, fall into despair, overcome despair | sense of hope, give up hope, hope for the best, hope is fading, hope is ignited |
| Antonyms | hope, confidence, optimism | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'despairing' (verb form)., Omitted the noun article (e.g., 'the despair')., Used incorrectly with positive contexts. | Confusing with 'hope is gone' - 'lost' implies a deeper sense of hopelessness., Using in positive contexts - it's used when things seem very bleak., Misplacing the phrase in a sentence - it should be used as is, not modified. |
| Usage notes | Used when someone feels they cannot improve their situation. Avoid in very casual conversations, as it may sound overly dramatic. | Use in situations of despair or when something unlikely happens. It’s suitable in both spoken and written contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Despair vs Hope is lost
What's the difference between Despair and Hope is lost?
Despair: a feeling of great sadness and hopelessness Hope is lost: When there is no more hope.
Which is more common: Despair and Hope is lost?
Despair is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Despair: She fell into deep __________ after losing her job. Hope is lost: After years of searching, she felt that all hope is lost.
Can I use Despair and Hope is lost interchangeably?
Not always. Despair and Hope is lost are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.