desperate

adjective

ˈde-sp(ə-)rət How to pronounce desperate (audio)
Definition of desperatenext
as in hopeless
feeling or showing no hope desperate cancer patients who are vulnerable to the claims of unscrupulous quacks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective desperate differ from other similar words?

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

Where would despairing be a reasonable alternative to desperate?

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

When might despondent be a better fit than desperate?

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

In what contexts can hopeless take the place of desperate?

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desperate The desperate Heat kept its season alive with a 109-90 must-win play-in triumph that saw domination from the start against a Bulls side that had been 3-0 vs. Miami during the season. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025 Mason's desperate wait for a life-changing kidney transplant was featured in a November 2023 report by Raleigh station WRAL. —Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2025 Based on a true story, Rosemead follows Irene, a Chinese immigrant mother driven to desperate measures by her unstable son’s escalating mental health crisis and growing obsession with mass shootings. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 16 Apr. 2025 Seizing the ball inside his own half, the Argentine midfielder evaded a desperate lunge before surging forward and feeding Beto for a late chance that the striker could not convert. —Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desperate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperate
  1. hopeless
  2. unhappy
  3. sad
  4. disappointed
  5. despairing
  6. cynical
  7. despondent
  8. heartbroken
Adjective
  • Previewing the playoffs with a playoff team draft Finding 3 positive thoughts for each of the NHL’s 15 most hopeless teams 16 stats: Blues’ turnaround, Lane Hutson’s stardom and Stars’ struggles Comments D Dan N. · 4h 17m ago Helle is thee best.
    — Scott Powers, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Mimi seesaws between hopeless heroin addict and righteous truth-teller.
    — Jeffrey Seller, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of hopeless
Adjective
  • Despite his close relationship with Trump, Elon Musk is unhappy about tariffs, which stand to hurt the business empire of the world’s richest man.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • There have even been reports of police being called to deal with the rowdy behavior, not to mention some theater employees who are unhappy about the cleanup required.
    — Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • Though the courts have not invariably ruled against Trump, the Administration’s record so far is, to use one of the President’s favorite words, sad.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The sad story of Alex Verdugo was one of the most puzzling dramas of the MLB offseason.
    — Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • In the meantime, Stuttgart will be a bit disappointed by the point.
    — Manuel Veth, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Continue reading … -- IN OTHER NEWS SPACE CADETS – Gayle King 'very disappointed' by response to Blue Origin flight.
    — FOXNews.com, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of disappointed
Adjective
  • By turns giddy, anxious, and despairing, these poems have endeared him to generations of ordinary readers who find in the tempestuous and ultimately brokenhearted poet a strikingly modern and profoundly accessible figure.
    — Daniel Mendelsohn, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
  • When a betrayal comes — and there are many in this tender but despairing film — the horror becomes unbearable, for Lucia and, almost, for the viewer, straight through to a horrific ending.
    — Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of despairing
Adjective
  • Beyond that, Acheampong’s rapid rise and equally precipitous fall in the first two weeks of January lent itself to the more cynical notion that Maresca might have wanted to send a message to Chelsea about the need for defensive reinforcements in the winter market.
    — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Perhaps most perplexing about Smash, though, is its weirdly cynical, ungenerous take on the Bombshell herself.
    — Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of cynical
Adjective
  • Players seemed despondent after Friday’s loss on Long Island.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Alex Vlasic just looked despondent.
    — Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of despondent
Adjective
  • Downs recovered from her injuries but remained heartbroken over the loss of her friends and overwhelmed with survivor's guilt.
    — Laurel Morales, NPR, 18 Apr. 2025
  • King was on an errand to pick up a snack for his mom when he was shot, heartbroken relatives said.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of heartbroken

Browse Nearby Words

desperadoes
desperate
desperately
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Cite this Entry

“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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