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

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › desperate

   Desperate means "having lost all hope." If you are desperate for food, it means you are starving, possibly about to die. If you are in a desperate situation, it means things are really, really bad.

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.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.

8. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_englishdesperate adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › american_english

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   adjective. /ˈdɛsprət/ , /ˈdɛspərət/. 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.

9. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishMeaning of desperate – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge ...

   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.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.

11. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryDESPERATE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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    desperate adjective (RISKY) Add to word list. showing a willingness to take any risk in order to change a bad or dangerous situation: The ads are a desperate attempt to win last-minute votes. A desperate person is willing to take any measures and may be dangerous: desperate criminals.