Synonyms

desperate

American

[des-per-it, -prit] / ˈdɛs pər ɪt, -prɪt /

adjective

reckless or dangerous because of despair, hopelessness, or urgency.

a desperate killer.

Synonyms:

frantic, rash

Antonyms:

careful
having an urgent need, desire, etc..

desperate for attention;
desperate to find a job.
leaving little or no hope; very serious or dangerous.

a desperate illness.

Synonyms:

grave

Antonyms:

hopeful
extremely bad; intolerable or shocking.

clothes in desperate taste.
extreme or excessive.
making a final, ultimate effort; giving all.

a desperate attempt to save a life.
actuated by a feeling of hopelessness.
having no hope; giving in to despair.

Synonyms:

desolate, forlorn

Antonyms:

hopeful

noun

Obsolete. a desperado.

desperate British

/ ˈdɛspərɪt, -prɪt /

adjective

careless of danger, as from despair; utterly reckless
(of an act) reckless; risky
used or undertaken in desperation or as a last resort

desperate measures
critical; very grave

in desperate need
in distress and having a great need or desire
moved by or showing despair or hopelessness; despairing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See hopeless.

Other Word Forms

desperately adverb
desperateness noun
quasi-desperate adjective

Etymology

Origin of desperate

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dēspērātus, past participle of dēspērāre “to be without hope, despair”; despair, -ate ¹

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.

“Survivors often stay cordial. They often ask for help when they feel desperate,” he added.

From Los Angeles Times

They are in a real relegation battle now, and their boss Nuno Espirito Santo is absolutely desperate for a win, but it is hard to see where it will come from.

From BBC

With the monkey off his back, Stokes will travel to Sydney for the fifth Test desperate for another win.

From BBC

And his character is complex in novel ways: The child of Chinese immigrants, Alexander was reared by people almost desperate to Americanize themselves, and he too has a hunger to be accepted.

From The Wall Street Journal

Tech companies are desperate for electricity for their AI data centers, causing demand for power to surge around the country.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023