Yahoo Web Search

Search results

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

   • D

     2

   • E

     1

   • S

     1

   • P

     3

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

   More definitions, origin and scrabble points

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

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   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

   • Cached

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

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

   www.dictionary.com › browse › desperate

   • Cached

   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.

5. www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › desperatedesperate adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and...

   www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com › english › desperate

   • Cached

   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.

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

   www.collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english

   • Cached

   If you are desperate for something or desperate to do something, you want or need it very much indeed. They'd been married nearly four years and June was desperate to start a family. People are desperate for him to do something.

7. 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.

8. dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-englishMeaning of desperate – Learner’s Dictionary - Cambridge...

   dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › learner-english

   • Cached

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

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

   www.thefreedictionary.com › desperate

   • Cached

   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 › us › dictionaryDESPERATE | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary

    • Cached

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

11. www.merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › desperateDESPERATE Synonyms: 101 Similar and Opposite Words - ...

    www.merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › desperate

    • Cached

    Synonyms for DESPERATE: hopeless, unhappy, sad, disappointed, despairing, cynical, despondent, heartbroken; Antonyms of DESPERATE: hopeful, optimistic, ecstatic, exuberant, exultant, euphoric, enraptured, merry