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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   willing to be violent, and therefore dangerous: This man is desperate and should not be approached since he may have a gun. More examples.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   If you are desperate for something or desperate to do something, you want or need it very much indeed. They'd been married nearly four years and June was desperate to start a family. People are desperate for him to do something.

4. 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.

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › desperate

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   reckless or dangerous because of despair, hopelessness, or urgency: a desperate killer. Synonyms: frantic, rash. Antonyms: careful. having an urgent need, desire, etc.: desperate for attention; desperate to find a job. leaving little or no hope; very serious or dangerous: a desperate illness.

6. 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.

7. 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.

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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   DESPERATE definition: 1. feeling that you have no hope and are ready to do anything to change the situation you are in…. Learn more.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. www.yourdictionary.com › desperateDesperate Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary

    www.yourdictionary.com › desperate

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    adjective. Marked by, arising from, or showing despair. The desperate look of hunger; a desperate cry for help. American Heritage. Driven to or resulting from loss of hope; rash or violent because of despair. A desperate criminal. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. Despairing; without hope. Webster's New World. Similar definitions.