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1. Dictionary

   desperate

   /ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/

   adjective

   • 1. feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with: "a desperate sadness enveloped Ruth" Similar despairinghopelessanguisheddistressedin despairsuicidalmiserablewretcheddesolateforlorndishearteneddiscourageddemoralizeddevastateddowncastresigneddefeatistpessimisticdistraughtfraughtovercomeout of one's mindat one's wits' endbeside oneselfat the end of one's tetherliterary:dolorousOpposite cheerfulcomposed
   • ▪ (of an act) tried in despair or when everything else has failed: "drugs used in a desperate attempt to save his life" Similar last-ditchlast-chancelast-resortlast-minutelast-gaspeleventh-hourall-outdo-or-diefinalfranticfrenziedwildstrainingfutilehopelessdoomedlost
   • ▪ (of a situation) extremely serious or dangerous: "there is a desperate shortage of teachers" Similar graveseriousdangerousriskyperiloushazardousprecariouscriticalacutedirevery badcalamitousappallingawfulterriblefrightfuldreadfuloutrageousintolerabledeplorablelamentablesorrypoorhopelessirretrievableinformal:lousychronicarchaic, humorous:parlousurgentpressingcompellingcryingacutecriticalcrucialvitaldrasticseriousgravedireextremegreatformal:exigent
   • ▪ (of a person) violent or dangerous: "a desperate criminal" Similar violentdangerouslawlessrecklessrashhastyimpetuousfoolhardyincautiousdeath-or-glorydo-or-diehazardousrisky
   • ▪ very bad: informal Irish "that beer's desperate—it's a wonder you've the nerve to offer it for sale"
   • 2. (of a person) having a great need or desire for something: "I am desperate for a cigarette" Similar in great need ofurgently requiringcravingin want oflackingwantingeagerachinglongingyearninghungrythirstythirstingitchingcrying outdesirousinformal:dying

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘in despair’): from Latin desperatus ‘deprived of hope’, past participle of desperare (see despair).

   Derivatives

   • 1. desperateness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

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2. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › englishDESPERATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

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   DESPERATE definition: 1. very serious or bad: 2. very great or extreme: 3. needing or wanting something very much: . Learn more.

3. www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › desperateDesperate Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

   www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › desperate

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   The meaning of DESPERATE is having lost hope. How to use desperate in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Desperate.

4. dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionaryDESPERATE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

   dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

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   DESPERATE meaning: 1. very serious or bad: 2. very great or extreme: 3. needing or wanting something very much: . Learn more.

5. www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › englishDESPERATE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

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   6 meanings: 1. careless of danger, as from despair; utterly reckless 2. (of an act) reckless; risky 3. used or undertaken in.... Click for more definitions.

6. www.dictionary.com › browse › desperateDESPERATE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

   www.dictionary.com › browse › desperate

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   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.

7. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › englishdesperate - Oxford Learner's Dictionaries

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › definition › english

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   feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others. The prisoners grew increasingly desperate. Stores are getting desperate after two years of poor sales. Somewhere out there was a desperate man, cold, hungry, hunted.

8. www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › desperateDesperate - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com

   www.vocabulary.com › dictionary › desperate

   Desperate means "having lost all hope." If you are desperate for food, it means you are starving, possibly about to die. If you are in a desperate situation, it means things are really, really bad.

9. www.thefreedictionary.com › desperateDesperate - definition of desperate by The Free Dictionary

   www.thefreedictionary.com › desperate

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   1. Having lost all hope; despairing. 2. Marked by, arising from, or showing despair: the desperate look of hunger; a desperate cry for help. 3. Reckless or violent because of despair: a desperate criminal. 4. Undertaken out of extreme urgency or as a last resort: a desperate attempt to save the family business. 5.

10. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishDESPERATE | meaning - Cambridge Learner's Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

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    DESPERATE definition: 1. feeling that you have no hope and are ready to do anything to change the situation you are in…. Learn more.

11. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definitiondesperate adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and...

    www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › us › definition

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    feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others The prisoners grew increasingly desperate. Stores are getting desperate after two years of poor sales. Somewhere out there was a desperate man, cold, hungry, hunted.