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desperate

/ˈdɛs.p(ə.)ɹɪt/noun, adjective2 syllables

Desperate means: showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort.

Synonyms for desperate12

adjective, as in showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort

adjective, as in arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

adjective, as in desperately determined

do-or-die, resolute

adjective, as in (of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair

adjective, as in fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless

adjective, as in showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire

What does desperate mean?7

adjective

1

showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort“made a last desperate attempt to reach the climber”

2

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope“a despairing view of the world situation”

3

desperately determined“do-or-die revolutionaries”

4

(of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair“a desperate criminal”

5

fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless“a desperate illness”

6

showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire“felt a desperate urge to confess”

noun

1

a person who is frightened and in need of help“they prey on the hopes of the desperate”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Desperate in a sentence

  • She's a lonely, desperate woman with a sick child.felidad
  • After all, even salesmen are desperate to avoid being targeted for downsizing.fcbond
  • You were desperate to do that, weren't you?CK
  • I know you're desperate to find your father.CM
  • They made a desperate call to the coast guard.Amastan
  • The bishop took pity on the desperate immigrants.CM
  • The government is desperate to keep inflation down.CM
  • He is in desperate search of further evidence.CM

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of desperate

as a noun

plural
desperates

as a adjective

comparative
desperater
superlative
desperatest