desperado
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of desperado
1600–10; probably pseudo-Spanish alteration of desperate (as noun, now obsolete), in same sense
Explanation
A desperado is an outlaw that you'd see in an old Western or in the Wild West. Think spurs, horses, and hip holsters— and a desperado with a cowboy hat on his head and a bandana tied around his face. You probably know the common word desperate. A hundred years ago, the word wasn’t just an adjective — it was also a noun. A desperate was someone in despair, someone in a desperate situation. And the American frontier was full of such people, people who had gone West to find gold but missed out on a big payoff. Desperado has the same meaning as the noun desperate, but with a Spanish influence.
Vocabulary lists containing desperado
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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.
Aldean’s concurrent “Highway Desperado Tour” started in July 2023 and has already included multiple shows in the state with more scheduled this year.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 23, 2024
The country star said he took “a couple of IVs” to recuperate and apologized for the clunky start to his Highway Desperado tour, which runs through the end of October.
From Washington Times • Jul. 17, 2023
The 54-year-old star appeared on Dax Shepard's "Armchair Expert" podcast on Monday where she reflected on her breakout role in 1995's "Desperado" opposite Antonio Banderas.
From Fox News • Feb. 16, 2021
"This has been a difficult year in our camp," said Henley, introducing The Eagles' breakthrough hit, Desperado.
From BBC • Jul. 3, 2016
Desperado and robber as he has been, I frankly admit he has fully earned the free pardon which you were shrewd enough to get for him.”
From The Intriguers by Le Queux, William
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
