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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.

Noelia Castillo Ramos’s death wasn’t an exercise of freedom but a desperate response to its erosion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Nonprofit live performance everywhere is in seemingly desperate search for funding.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Seeing virtually no hope of acquittal, Brown’s attorneys were desperate to preserve the possibility of commutation.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026

He will not only offer defensive cover, but has proved he can be an attacking weapon, albeit a very basic one, if it comes to a desperate search for a goal.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

But now I can’t tell if it means anything at all or if I’m just so desperate for meaning that I’m inventing it where there is none.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.