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
desperateness
noun
Examples of desperate in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Along the way she’s joined by a scarecrow (Avery Wilson) in need of a brain, a tinman (Phillip Johnson Richardson) wanting a heart and a lion (Kyle Ramar Freeman) desperate for some courage.
—Maya Phillips, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Feeling desperate and caring too much about the boy blowing up your phone?
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
Plumes of smoke always seem to be rising from somewhere in the distance, and apart from a few congregation zones—a makeshift campsite where kids play with abandon, a crowded block where desperate Brooklynites line up for water rations—the landscapes are eerily emptied out.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024
The trio used palm tree branches to make their desperate plea.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Even before Donald announced his retirement last month, the Rams were in desperate need of pass rushers, especially edge rushers.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
That night, several of the Russians, in a desperate dash, successfully escaped.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
But the pop song echoed down empty hallways now, and Knoll knew his inbox would once again be filled with messages from desperate patients.
—Casey Parks, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
The situation in the Gaza Strip is now dire, with millions not having enough food, housing, or medical care to meet the needs of a desperate population.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Maya Phillips, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2024
Feeling desperate and caring too much about the boy blowing up your phone?
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
Plumes of smoke always seem to be rising from somewhere in the distance, and apart from a few congregation zones—a makeshift campsite where kids play with abandon, a crowded block where desperate Brooklynites line up for water rations—the landscapes are eerily emptied out.
—Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2024
The trio used palm tree branches to make their desperate plea.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2024
Even before Donald announced his retirement last month, the Rams were in desperate need of pass rushers, especially edge rushers.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024
That night, several of the Russians, in a desperate dash, successfully escaped.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
But the pop song echoed down empty hallways now, and Knoll knew his inbox would once again be filled with messages from desperate patients.
—Casey Parks, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024
The situation in the Gaza Strip is now dire, with millions not having enough food, housing, or medical care to meet the needs of a desperate population.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desperate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperate. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
desperate
adjective
des·per·ate
ˈdes-p(ə-)rət
1
: being beyond or almost beyond hope
a desperate illness
2
: reckless because of despair : rash
a desperate attempt
desperately
adverb
desperateness
noun
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