desperation
Americannoun
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the state of being desperate or of having the recklessness of despair.
-
the act or fact of despairing; despair.
noun
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desperate recklessness
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the act of despairing or the state of being desperate
Related Words
See despair.
Etymology
Origin of desperation
1325–75; Middle English desperacioun < Latin dēspērātiōn- (stem of dēspērātiō ). See desperate, -ion
Explanation
Desperation is a hopeless state. If you learned that your friend had sold her beloved shoe collection, you'd know she did it out of desperation. When you've lost hope or have run out of possible solutions to a problem, you're experiencing desperation. The word implies a reckless kind of frustration. For example, a person who hasn't eaten in three days might steal food out of desperation. The origin of the word traces back to the Latin desperare, "to lose all hope," which is formed from the prefix de-, "without," added to sperare, "hope."
Vocabulary lists containing desperation
Where the Red Fern Grows
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Stargirl
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Baseball in April
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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.
Somewhere between Rue and Cassie on the desperation scale sits Elle Fanning’s Margo Millet, an eager community college student whose money troubles start when she falls for one of the oldest tricks in the book.
From Salon • May 4, 2026
Would I have made the Faustian bargain from a place of raw desperation?
From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026
The Arsenal manager has previously spoken about his and the fans' "willingness to win", and that desperation from supporters to see success has led to some tense moments, particularly at home.
From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026
As of Friday, they stood $31 a barrel higher than front-month Brent futures contracts, a historical anomaly that points to desperation among oil importers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026
Rats, ferrets, weasels and stoats fought with the ferocity born of desperation.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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.
