despairingly
1
6.1
- adverb
- /dɪˈspɛrɪŋli/
:
desesperadamente
- While millions of Mozambicans wait despairingly for peace, Mozambican society is undergoing profound change.
- looked despairingly
- said despairingly
- thought despairingly
And then Smith despairingly through the dazzle of the flames as the leather parted suddenly, blindingly, the starstone flamed in her hands.
- And then Smith despairingly through the dazzle of the flames as the leather parted suddenly, blindingly, the starstone flamed in her hands.
Examples
-
Alan looked at me despairingly, brushing his hand through his hair.
Fiction book (1991) -
'No, you were not mistaken,' she said slowly, looking despairingly into his cold face.
Blog text (8) -
"Oh, Robert," she said despairingly.
Fiction book (1998) -
I have lost the center of my basket, he thought despairingly.
Fiction book (2000) -
I can't do that, she thought despairingly.
Fiction book (1999) -
"How can odds of ninety-eight point six go up?" Sam said despairingly.
Fiction book (1992) -
"I don't know," he answered despairingly.
Fiction book (1990) -
I shook my head despairingly at Vivian.
Fiction book (1990) -
"But what could a mere child do to offend a god?" Larvot raised his hands despairingly.
Fiction book (2002) -
She looked despairingly at the pile of unanswered emails in her inbox.
Synonyms
60
3.7
In a way that shows no chance of success
53
1.0
In an unhappy way because you feel upset
51
2.2
In a way that shows great unhappiness or pain
6
5.8
In a sad, quiet way that shows someone is unhappy
4
4.7
In a sad way that shows grief
4
6.7
In a sad, soft way that sounds like crying
3
5.5
In a serious and sad way
3
4.8
In a gloomy way that makes people feel sad or hopeless
3
4.1
In a sad way that shows no hope
3
7.4
In a sad, lonely way as if left alone
2
6.2
In a way that shows no hope or cheer
2
8.1
In a very sad, ashamed, and helpless way
2
6.5
In a sad, disappointed way
1
4.6
In a sad way that shows a person is sorry
1
7.3
In a sad, hopeless way that shows you have lost hope
1
8.5
In a very sad way that shows no comfort or hope
1
7.2
In a sad way that shows you are unhappy
1
5.4
In a boring, gloomy way that shows little energy
1
7.4
In a sad way that shows no hope
1
7.5
In a way that shows great loneliness and sadness
In a sad, tired way with little energy
In a very sad way
In a sad and thoughtful way
In a very sad, gloomy way
Antonyms
How Hopeless
Surface Forms
Morphology
despairingly = despairing (transparent) = despair + ing + ly
The adverb is regularly formed from the adjective or participial base 'despairing' with '-ly', and the connection to 'despair' is straightforward.
Etymology
Despairingly comes from despair, which is built from de- meaning 'without' and sperare meaning 'to hope', so it literally means 'without hope'. That's why to act despairingly is to behave as if you have given up and see no chance of help.