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desperate

[ des-per-it, -prit ]
/ ˈdɛs pər ÉŖt, -prÉŖt /
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adjective
noun
Obsolete. a desperado.
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Origin of desperate

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dēspērātus, past participle of dēspērāre ā€œto be without hope, despairā€; see despair, -ate1

synonym study for desperate

3. See hopeless.

OTHER WORDS FROM desperate

desĀ·perĀ·ateĀ·ly, adverbdesĀ·perĀ·ateĀ·ness, nounquaĀ·si-desĀ·perĀ·ate, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH desperate

desperate , disparate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Ā© Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use desperate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for desperate

desperate
/ (ˈdɛspərÉŖt, -prÉŖt) /

adjective
careless of danger, as from despair; utterly reckless
(of an act) reckless; risky
used or undertaken in desperation or as a last resortdesperate measures
critical; very gravein desperate need
(often postpositive and foll by for) in distress and having a great need or desire
moved by or showing despair or hopelessness; despairing

Derived forms of desperate

desperately, adverbdesperateness, noun

Word Origin for desperate

C15: from Latin dēspērāre to have no hope; see despair
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Ā© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 Ā© HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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