desperation
Americannoun
-
the state of being desperate or of having the recklessness of despair.
-
the act or fact of despairing; despair.
noun
-
desperate recklessness
-
the act of despairing or the state of being desperate
Synonym Usage
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Stargirl
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Baseball in April
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
The following “Love Takes Miles,” which might be Mr. Winter’s most accessible solo work, has a folk-like chord progression and a musical cheeriness that belies the song’s feelings of loneliness and desperation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
She said she was "incredibly traumatised and not able to summon help", then dialled 999 in desperation.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
He wrote that the fundraiser had been created as "a result of our concern and desperation" after trying "multiple avenues" to locate his stepfather.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
Salon’s Sophia Tesfaye agrees, calling the self-evident desperation “excruciating”:
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
The people at the very back, shoved so recently to the ground, dance in desperation, pounding the backs and shoulders of the people in front of them.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
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.
