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1. Dictionary

   desperate

   /ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/

   adjective

   • 1. feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with: "a desperate sadness enveloped Ruth" Similar despairinghopelessanguisheddistressedin despairsuicidalmiserablewretcheddesolateforlorndishearteneddiscourageddemoralizeddevastateddowncastresigneddefeatistpessimisticdistraughtfraughtovercomeout of one's mindat one's wits' endbeside oneselfat the end of one's tetherliterary:dolorousOpposite cheerfulcomposed
   • ▪ (of an act) tried in despair or when everything else has failed: "drugs used in a desperate attempt to save his life" Similar last-ditchlast-chancelast-resortlast-minutelast-gaspeleventh-hourall-outdo-or-diefinalfranticfrenziedwildstrainingfutilehopelessdoomedlost
   • ▪ (of a situation) extremely serious or dangerous: "there is a desperate shortage of teachers" Similar graveseriousdangerousriskyperiloushazardousprecariouscriticalacutedirevery badcalamitousappallingawfulterriblefrightfuldreadfuloutrageousintolerabledeplorablelamentablesorrypoorhopelessirretrievableinformal:lousychronicarchaic, humorous:parlousurgentpressingcompellingcryingacutecriticalcrucialvitaldrasticseriousgravedireextremegreatformal:exigent
   • ▪ (of a person) violent or dangerous: "a desperate criminal" Similar violentdangerouslawlessrecklessrashhastyimpetuousfoolhardyincautiousdeath-or-glorydo-or-diehazardousrisky
   • ▪ very bad: informal Irish "that beer's desperate—it's a wonder you've the nerve to offer it for sale"
   • 2. (of a person) having a great need or desire for something: "I am desperate for a cigarette" Similar in great need ofurgently requiringcravingin want oflackingwantingeagerachinglongingyearninghungrythirstythirstingitchingcrying outdesirousinformal:dying

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘in despair’): from Latin desperatus ‘deprived of hope’, past participle of desperare (see despair).

   Derivatives

   • 1. desperateness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

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   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

2. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › desperateDesperate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › desperate

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   The meaning of DESPERATE is having lost hope. How to use desperate in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Desperate.

3. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishDESPERATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   very great or extreme: The earthquake survivors are in desperate need of help. He has a desperate desire to succeed. informal I'm in a desperate hurry. Fewer examples. I felt I couldn't cope with the situation and was in desperate need of some reassurance. They spun us a story about being in desperate need of money.

4. www.dictionary.com › browse › desperateDESPERATE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › desperate

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   Desperate definition: reckless or dangerous because of despair, hopelessness, or urgency. See examples of DESPERATE used in a sentence.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishDESPERATE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   adjective. 1. careless of danger, as from despair; utterly reckless. 2. (of an act) reckless; risky. 3. used or undertaken in desperation or as a last resort. desperate measures. 4.

6. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishdesperate adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others. The prisoners grew increasingly desperate. Stores are getting desperate after two years of poor sales. Somewhere out there was a desperate man, cold, hungry, hunted.

7. www.thefreedictionary.com › desperateDesperate - definition of desperate by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › desperate

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   1. Having lost all hope; despairing. 2. Marked by, arising from, or showing despair: the desperate look of hunger; a desperate cry for help. 3. Reckless or violent because of despair: a desperate criminal. 4. Undertaken out of extreme urgency or as a last resort: a desperate attempt to save the family business. 5.

8. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › desperateDesperate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › desperate

   showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire. “felt a desperate urge to confess”. “a desperate need for recognition”. synonyms: imperative. requiring attention or action. adjective. arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope. “a desperate cry for help”.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishDESPERATE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   feeling that you have no hope and are ready to do anything to change the situation you are in: He was absolutely desperate and would have tried anything to get her back.

10. www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionaryDESPERATE - All you need to know about it - Collins Online ...

    www.collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary

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    1. If you are desperate, you are in such a bad situation that you are willing to try anything to change it. [...] 2. If you are desperate for something or desperate to do something, you want or need it very much indeed. [...] 3. A desperate situation is very difficult, serious, or dangerous. [...]

11. www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › desperatedesperate | meaning of desperate in Longman Dictionary of...

    www.ldoceonline.com › dictionary › desperate

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    desperate meaning, definition, what is desperate: willing to do anything to change a very ...: Learn more.