desperate [des -per-it, -prit]
Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for desperate on Thesaurus.com reckless or dangerous because of despair , hopelessness, or urgency: a desperate killer. 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. 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. Show More
Origin of desperate 1350–1400; Middle English <
Latin dēspērātus, past participle of
dēspērāre to
despair ; see
-ate1 Related forms des·per·ate·ly , adverb des·per·ate·ness , noun qua·si-des·per·ate , adjective qua·si-des·per·ate·ly , adverb Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for desperate daring ,
dangerous ,
bold ,
violent ,
determined ,
frantic ,
furious ,
frenzied ,
great ,
urgent ,
terrible ,
fierce ,
critical ,
dire ,
forlorn ,
vain ,
futile ,
despondent ,
sad ,
madcap Examples from the Web for desperate Contemporary Examples of desperate We might have thought The Comeback was about a desperate actress's shameless struggle for fame.
Brinsley got out of jail last July, and was desperate and aimless.
After what seemed a desperate eternity, a doctor shook his head.
Sam watches her fall apart, tear herself apart and is desperate .
He and Jessen convinced a stunned and desperate CIA that they were the ones to run a new interrogation program.
Historical Examples of desperate He turned and began to run homewards, like a hunted man in desperate flight.
Desperate hope in another man's God may do something for us, but it cannot do much.
In this desperate situation he determined to send a written despatch to Athens.
It may be, however, that matters are not so desperate as they appear.
"You're a desperate fellow," she said, half scared, and she laughed a little.
British Dictionary definitions for desperate 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 (often postpositive and foll by for ) in distress and having a great need or desire moved by or showing despair or hopelessness; despairing Show More
Derived Forms desperately , adverb desperateness , noun Word Origin for desperate C15: from Latin dēspērāre to have no hope; see despair
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
Word Origin and History for desperate adj. early 15c., "despairing, hopeless," from Latin desperatus "given up, despaired of," past participle of desperare (see despair (v.)). Sense of "driven to recklessness" is from late 15c.; weakened sense of "having a great desire for" is from 1950s. Related: Desperately .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
