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Definition

despair noun

/dɪˈspeər /US pronunciation symbol/-ˈsper/ n [U]
the feeling that there is no hope and that you can do nothing to improve a difficult or worrying situation
a mood/sense of despair
They're in (the depths of) despair over/about the money they've lost.
To her teacher's despair, Nicole never does the work that she's told to do.
Their fourth year without rain drove many farmers to (= caused them to feel) despair.

be the despair of sb

to cause someone such difficulties that they do not know how to deal with you
He's the despair of his parents because he shows no interest in getting a job.

(Definition of despair noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

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