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Definitions

desperate

[des-per-it, -prit] / ˈdɛs pər ɪt, -prɪt /
ADJECTIVE
reckless, outrageous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bold dangerous daring determined frantic frenzied furious violent
STRONG
madcap precipitate rash wild
WEAK
atrocious audacious careless death-defying devil-may-care foolhardy hasty hazardous headlong headstrong heinous impetuous incautious monstrous risky scandalous shocking venturesome
Antonyms
STRONGEST
afraid calm cowardly fearful meek mild moderate peaceful quiet shy timid weak
WEAK
content contented hopeful satisfactory satisfied secure unworried
ADJECTIVE
extreme, intense
Synonyms
STRONGEST
critical dire fierce furious great terrible urgent violent
STRONG
acute climacteric
WEAK
concentrated crucial drastic exquisite vehement very grave vicious
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm gentle good mild moderate nice peaceful trivial unimportant
WEAK
content contented hopeful satisfactory satisfied secure unworried
ADJECTIVE
hopeless
Synonyms
STRONGEST
despondent forlorn futile sad vain
STRONG
downcast goner
WEAK
at end of one's rope back to the wall can't win dead duck despairing desponding gone hard up in the soup in the toilet inconsolable irrecoverable irremediable irretrievable no chance no-win running out of time sunk up against it up the creek useless wretched
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful happy hopeful joyful
WEAK
calm confident content contented satisfactory satisfied secure unworried

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.

"The mother has been in and out of hospital, not eating. It's obviously a really desperate situation," she told AFP.

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

Moms are exhausted, unsure what all their extra effort is for, and desperate for a change.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

“Understandably at that time, we were desperate to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe — so health and longevity were at the forefront of our minds,” writes Caroline Tien for SELF.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

The charity says Bumpy "was clearly desperate for comfort and connection" and has been glued to his keepers ever since.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Knowing Maggie’s desperate finances, a Spiritualist scoffed, “for five dollars she would have denied her mother and would have sworn to anything.”

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Vocabulary lists containing desperate

List 8

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"Sorry, Wrong Number," Vocabulary from the play

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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 4

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