desperate

adjective

ˈde-sp(ə-)rət How to pronounce desperate (audio)
Definition of desperatenext
as in hopeless
feeling or showing no hope desperate cancer patients who are vulnerable to the claims of unscrupulous quacks

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective desperate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of desperate are despairing, despondent, and hopeless. While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.

one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle

Where would despairing be a reasonable alternative to desperate?

While the synonyms despairing and desperate are close in meaning, despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

When might despondent be a better fit than desperate?

The words despondent and desperate can be used in similar contexts, but despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

In what contexts can hopeless take the place of desperate?

The meanings of hopeless and desperate largely overlap; however, hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desperate Their desperate efforts to hide from the cameras became instant fodder for social media memes and late-night jokes and, eventually, for a cheeky video response from Astronomer, starring Martin’s ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025 But these kinds of stories are rare — raw, unapologetic, complicated, desperate, messed up adult love stories. —Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025 Russia has been desperate to offset the loss of its European market after invading Ukraine. —Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Leoni popped up in the season 4 finale of Only Murders in the Building, and is officially back for season 5 as Sofia Caccimelio, a woman desperate to find her missing husband, Nicky. —Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desperate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperate
  1. hopeless
  2. unhappy
  3. sad
  4. disappointed
  5. despairing
  6. cynical
  7. despondent
  8. heartbroken
Adjective
  • But the situation is not hopeless.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Dealing with the horrors of the situation in Gaza within the sterile environment of a call center, its workers are feeling increasingly hopeless, caught in the political crossfire of an escalating situation.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of hopeless
Adjective
  • My research team works hard to keep the email addresses up to date, but executives keep changing their addresses to avoid having to deal with unhappy customers.
    — Christopher Elliott, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • But few seemed to leave unhappy.
    — Jonathan Hawkins, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Definition of unhappy
Adjective
  • But now, the King and the royal family have received very sad news that will change things going forward.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Shooting scenes in wide or medium shots that sometimes break into Hsiao-Lee’s harrowing point-of-view, cinematographer Yu Jing-Pin depicts a world without much color or hope, while sets by Huang Mei-Ching and Tu Shuo-Feng emphasize a sad and impoverished existence.
    — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • The pop star's fans were sorely disappointed when the first four episodes of the series' second season debuted without an appearance by Gaga, whose guest-starring role in the gothy drama has been teased by Netflix for months.
    — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • This does not seem to be a man with skeletons in his closet and those hunting for them here will leave disappointed.
    — Caleb Hammond, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
Definition of disappointed
Adjective
  • Exhausted and despairing, many Palestinians had their own reasons for refusing to pack up and uproot themselves again.
    — WAFAA SHURAFA, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
  • People are despairing over the Supreme Court and its deference to the president.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Definition of despairing
Adjective
  • Nicole Kidman adds just the right amount of menace as a villainous taxidermist, but the heart of the movie lies in its celebration of kindness, decency and family—values that feel refreshingly radical in our cynical times.
    — Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • And there is often an expectation of escapism in romance that precludes dealing realistically with money — or, for big media blockbusters, a cynical assumption that audiences won't enjoy a romcom which also takes the logistics of life seriously.
    — Chelsea Fagan, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025
Definition of cynical
Adjective
  • Burials have taken place at a July 11 commemoration service—a despondent attempt at closure for grieving families.
    — Seema Jilani August 29, Literary Hub, 29 Aug. 2025
  • After the race, Hamilton sounded despondent and hinted at turmoil at his new team.
    — Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Aug. 2025
Definition of despondent
Adjective
  • And utterly heartbroken for Charlie’s young family.
    — Amanda Castro Gabe Whisnant Anna Commander Toby Meyjes Shane Croucher John Feng Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The woman noted that canceling the shower has left her heartbroken.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
Definition of heartbroken

Browse Nearby Words

desperadoes
desperate
desperately
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Cite this Entry

“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperate. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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