desperate
adjective
des·per·ate ˈde-sp(ə-)rət 
-spərt
1
a
: having lost hope
a desperate spirit crying for relief
b
: giving no ground for hope
the outlook was desperate
2
a
: moved by despair or utter loss of hope
victims made desperate by abuse
b
: involving or employing extreme measures in an attempt to escape defeat or frustration
made a desperate leap for the rope
3
: suffering extreme need or anxiety
desperate for money
desperate to escape
celebrities desperate for attention
4
: involving extreme danger or possible disaster
a desperate situation
5
: of extreme intensity
… a desperate languor descended heavily upon her, and she slept …
Elinor Wylie
Elinor Wylie6
: shocking, outrageous
desperateness noun
Synonyms
- despairing
- despondent
- forlorn
- hopeless
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The collapse of her business had made her desperate. As the supply of food ran out, people became desperate. We could hear their desperate cries for help. a desperate struggle to defeat the enemy He made a desperate bid to save his job. They made one last desperate attempt to fight their way out. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Sara Canning and Osric Chau play a pair of rental house-reviewing vloggers who, desperate for subscribers, make the mistake of lampooning their latest host Rebecca, played with delirious brio by Teen Beach Movie star Gracie Gillam. Clark Collis, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2022 The spectacularly volatile compound of place and moment was exploding into galaxies of potentialities that invited psychological exploration, social experimentation, abrupt life transitions, and exuberant or desperate adventure. Deborah Eisenberg, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022 But the Heat also were not in the same position as the New York Knicks, desperate to finally close a deal, to bring Mitchell back home to New York. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 But many people — so desperate for answers as to why someone so famous and beloved could die in such a way, at such a young age — have sought out other explanations. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2022 The world was full of people just like her, people desperate to understand the rules that everyone else follows, who endeavor to pass as members of the human species. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 As with many mental health disorders, family members and friends can feel helpless and desperate for some kind of solution. Natalie Bettendorf, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 The investigation by the Democratic prosecutor has brought heightened scrutiny to the desperate and ultimately failed efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. Kate Brumback, ajc, 17 Aug. 2022 The investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has brought heightened scrutiny to the desperate and ultimately failed efforts to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. Kate Brumback, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Clark Collis, EW.com, 7 Sep. 2022 The spectacularly volatile compound of place and moment was exploding into galaxies of potentialities that invited psychological exploration, social experimentation, abrupt life transitions, and exuberant or desperate adventure. Deborah Eisenberg, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022 But the Heat also were not in the same position as the New York Knicks, desperate to finally close a deal, to bring Mitchell back home to New York. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 2 Sep. 2022 But many people — so desperate for answers as to why someone so famous and beloved could die in such a way, at such a young age — have sought out other explanations. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 30 Aug. 2022 The world was full of people just like her, people desperate to understand the rules that everyone else follows, who endeavor to pass as members of the human species. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2022 As with many mental health disorders, family members and friends can feel helpless and desperate for some kind of solution. Natalie Bettendorf, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2022 The investigation by the Democratic prosecutor has brought heightened scrutiny to the desperate and ultimately failed efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. Kate Brumback, ajc, 17 Aug. 2022 The investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has brought heightened scrutiny to the desperate and ultimately failed efforts to overturn Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election win. Kate Brumback, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English desperat, borrowed from Latin dēspērātus, past participle of dēspērāre "to give up as hopeless, despair of" — more at despair entry 2
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Kids Definition
desperate
adjective
des·per·ate ˈde-spə-rət
-sprət
1
: very sad and worried and with little or no hope
People became desperate for food.
2
: showing great worry and loss of hope
a desperate call for help
3
: giving little reason to hope : causing despair
a desperate situation
4
: reckless because of despair : rash
He made a desperate attempt to escape.
5
: very severe
The injury is in desperate need of attention.
desperate
adjective
as in hopeless
feeling or showing no hope desperate cancer patients who are vulnerable to the claims of unscrupulous quacks Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hopeless
- unhappy
- sad
- disappointed
- despairing
- cynical
- heartbroken
- despondent
- depressed
- forlorn
- bleak
- mournful
- dark
- melancholy
- discouraged
- accepting
- miserable
- depressing
- dejected
- heartsick
- dispirited
- woebegone
- sorry
- crestfallen
- downhearted
- disconsolate
- resigned
- grieving
- brokenhearted
- sorrowful
- disheartened
- abject
- woeful
- inconsolable
- wretched
- joyless
- saddened
- doleful
- glum
- gloomy
- blue
- heartsore
- low
- downcast
- weeping
- hangdog
- desolate
- wailing
- down
- cheerless
- dismal
- pessimistic
- low-spirited
- dreary
- comfortless
- drear
- funereal
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hopeful
- optimistic
- ecstatic
- exuberant
- enraptured
- exultant
- euphoric
- merry
- jolly
- jovial
- elated
- gay
- encouraged
- exhilarated
- blithe
- happy
- mirthful
- entranced
- cheerful
- glad
- perky
- joyous
- vivacious
- joyful
- gleeful
- delighted
- jubilant
- lively
- blissful
- cheery
- buoyant
- upbeat
- blithesome
- animated
- sprightly
- jocund
- heartened
- jaunty
- sunny
- lightsome
- chipper
- sprightful
- gladdened
- gladsome
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of desperate are despairing, despondent, and hopeless. While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.
one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle
While the synonyms despairing and desperate are close in meaning, despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.
despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child
The words despondent and desperate can be used in similar contexts, but despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.
despondent about yet another rejection
The meanings of hopeless and desperate largely overlap; however, hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.
the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless
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- non-insulin-dependent diabetes
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