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3 VERB If you despair of something, you feel that there is no hope that it will happen or improve. If you despair of someone, you feel that there is no hope that they will improve. □ [V + of ] He wished to earn a living through writing but despaired of doing so.

des|patch /d I spæ tʃ/ → see dispatch

des|pe|ra|do /de spərɑː doʊ/ (desperadoes or desperados ) N‑COUNT A desperado is someone who does illegal, violent things without worrying about the danger. [OLD-FASHIONED ]

des|per|ate ◆◇◇ /de spərət/

1 ADJ If you are desperate , you are in such a bad situation that you are willing to try anything to change it. □  Troops are needed to help get food to the people in desperate need. □  He made a desperate attempt to hijack a plane. ●  des|per|ate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  Thousands are desperately trying to leave their battered homes.

2 ADJ [v-link ADJ , usu ADJ to-inf] If you are desperate for something or desperate to do something, you want or need it very much indeed. □  They'd been married nearly four years and June was desperate to start a family. □ [+ for ] People are desperate for him to do something. ●  des|per|ate|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  He was a boy who desperately needed affection.

3 ADJ A desperate situation is very difficult, serious, or dangerous. □  India's United Nations ambassador said the situation is desperate.

des|pera|tion /de spəre I ʃ ^ə n/ N‑UNCOUNT Desperation is the feeling that you have when you are in such a bad situation that you will try anything to change it. □  This feeling of desperation and helplessness was common to most of the refugees.

des|pic|able /d I sp I kəb ^ə l, [AM ] de sp I k-/ ADJ If you say that a person or action is despicable , you are emphasizing that they are extremely nasty, cruel, or evil. [EMPHASIS ] □  The Minister said the bombing was a despicable crime.

des|pise /d I spa I z/ (despises , despising , despised ) VERB If you despise something or someone, you dislike them and have a very low opinion of them. □ [V n] I can never, ever forgive him. I despise him.

de|spite ◆◆◇ /d I spa I t/

1 PREP You use despite to introduce a fact which makes the other part of the sentence surprising. □  It is possible to lead happy and productive lives despite their loss.

2 PREP If you do something despite yourself you do it although you did not really intend or expect to. □  Despite myself, Harry's remarks had caused me to stop and reflect.

de|spoil /d I spɔ I l/ (despoils , despoiling , despoiled ) VERB To despoil a place means to make it less attractive, valuable, or important by taking things away from it or by destroying it. [FORMAL ] □ [V n] …people who despoil the countryside.

de|spond|en|cy /d I spɒ ndənsi/ N‑UNCOUNT Despondency is a strong feeling of unhappiness caused by difficulties which you feel you cannot overcome. □  There's a mood of gloom and despondency in the country.

de|spond|ent /d I spɒ ndənt/ ADJ If you are despondent , you are very unhappy because you have been experiencing difficulties that you think you will not be able to overcome. □  I feel despondent when my work is rejected. ●  de|spond|ent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  Despondently, I went back and told Bill the news.

des|pot /de spɒt, [AM ] -pət/ (despots ) N‑COUNT A despot is a ruler or other person who has a lot of power and who uses it unfairly or cruelly.

des|pot|ic /d I spɒ t I k/ ADJ If you say that someone is despotic , you are emphasizing that they use their power over other people in a very unfair or cruel way. [EMPHASIS ] □  The country was ruled by a despotic tyrant.