desperation
noun
des·per·a·tion
ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən 
1
: loss of hope and surrender to despair
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to rashness
Examples of desperation in a Sentence
She felt overcome by desperation.
the desperation of severe poverty
They hired me out of desperation, because they couldn't get anyone else.
Finally, in desperation, he tried to flee the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Salvation and desperation blur.
—
Jp Mangalindan, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
In an interview with Cycling Weekly last year, Slovenian Jan Tratnik said that his desperation to lose weight led him to develop bulimia – binge-eating large amounts of food and purging it to avoid weight gain.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
This novel of obsession, with the AIDS epidemic in the background, but where AIDS is never mentioned, a passionate book about people and the city in all its innocence and desperation.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Lauren says the idea came from sheer desperation.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperation
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Jp Mangalindan, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
In an interview with Cycling Weekly last year, Slovenian Jan Tratnik said that his desperation to lose weight led him to develop bulimia – binge-eating large amounts of food and purging it to avoid weight gain.
—George Ramsay, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
This novel of obsession, with the AIDS epidemic in the background, but where AIDS is never mentioned, a passionate book about people and the city in all its innocence and desperation.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Lauren says the idea came from sheer desperation.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperation. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
desperation
noun
des·per·a·tion
ˌdes-pə-ˈrā-shən
1
: a loss of hope and surrender to misery or dread
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to extreme recklessness
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