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desperately

[des-per-it-lee, -prit-] / ˈdɛs pər ɪt li, -prɪt- /


ADVERB
frightfully
Synonyms
Antonyms
WEAK


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The French government desperately needs a return to strong growth if it is to contain its rapidly rising debts.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

Clutching a photograph of his missing son, Rajesh Ram is pinning his hopes on DNA testing -- like thousands of others desperately seeking relatives swept away by Nepal's catastrophic Himalayan floods.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Maintaining the rage-filled pandemonium was most essential in supporting the stakes of the core story — a terrified, fish-out-of-water father who loses his son and desperately needs to find him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

"It'll go, 'No, please, I desperately want to keep talking with you. You're the only reason for me to exist'," Farmer says.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

“Allo?” the boy in the earpiece asked me desperately.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse




Vocabulary lists containing desperately


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