These nouns denote loss of hope. 这些名词都意指丧失希望。

1. Despair and hopelessness stress the utter absence of hope and often imply a sense of powerlessness or resignation: Despair 和 hopelessness  强调完全没有希望，并经常暗示一种“无能的、听任摆布”的意思：

When the bank repossessed the house, their depression turned to despair. 当银行收回房子时，他们的沮丧变成了绝望。

A spirit of hopelessness pervaded the refugee camp. 绝望的情绪笼罩着难民营。

2. Desperation is despair that drives a person to take risky, often reckless action: Desperation  是一种驱使人冒险，经常是暴力行动的绝望：

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation” (Henry David Thoreau). “男人们在沉静的绝望中生活” （亨利·大卫·梭罗）。

3. Despondency emphasizes depression of spirit resulting from cessation of hope and a belief that continued efforts will fail: Despondency  强调由希望的中止以及一种继续努力，也会徒劳无功的信念导致的精神沮丧：

Her despondency arises from her inability to find employment. 她之所以意志消沉是因为她无法找到工作。

4. Discouragement denotes loss of confidence or courage in the face of obstacles but is the weakest of these terms: Discouragement  是指在面对阻碍时丧失信心或勇气，但在这些词中，它“失望”的程度是最轻的：

The farmer experienced moments of discouragement over the failure of his crops. 农夫经受了片刻的对农作物歉收的痛苦