counsel of despair
The phrase "counsel of despair" is often used to describe advice or actions taken when one feels hopeless or defeated.
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Definition
C1General
(formal)Advice given when one believes no improvement is possible, suggesting giving up or accepting defeat.
Example
- Saying we should abandon the project altogether is a counsel of despair.
- His recommendation to shut down the business was seen as a counsel of despair by the board.
C1Decision-making
(formal)A decision made out of a sense of hopelessness, often as a last resort.
Example
- Choosing to evacuate the city was a counsel of despair after all other plans failed.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "counsel of despair":