The antonym of 'hope' is ____.

The word "hope" represents a feeling of optimism or expectation that something desirable will happen in the future. Its antonym should represent the opposite sentiment, which is a feeling of negativity or lack of optimism.

1. Opposite Meaning: "Despair" signifies a complete loss of hope or a feeling of hopelessness. It represents a lack of optimism or belief that things will improve or turn out positively.

2. Contextual Contrast: When someone is experiencing hope, they have a positive outlook and believe that things will get better. Conversely, when someone is in a state of despair, they feel overwhelmed by negativity and see little or no hope for improvement.

3. Semantic Relationship: "Hope" and "despair" are often viewed as contrasting emotions. Where there is hope, there is a belief in the possibility of positive outcomes, while despair implies a sense of defeat or resignation to negative outcomes.

Given these explanations, "despair" is the antonym of "hope" because it represents the opposite emotional state and sentiment.