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desperado

[des-puh-rah-doh, -rey-] / ˌdɛs pəˈrɑ doʊ, -ˈreɪ- /


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.

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Still, with his chest-hugging T-shirt and rugged handsomeness, Mr. Bernthal recalls John Travolta in his early prime rather than the sweaty, disheveled but endearing desperado memorably created by Mr. Pacino.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 31, 2026

Instead of lawn or little potted palms around the pool, there are oversize stands of desperado sage, a fragrant hybrid between white sage and purple sage, growing so untamed they’re nearly spilling into the pool.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 30, 2024

“He certainly is not a negro desperado, but an intelligent gentleman, whose appearance speaks for him,” she wrote.

From Washington Post Aug. 20, 2022

East Chicago police in the raiding squad said “two Department of Justice men” executed the desperado, but would not name them.

From Washington Times Aug. 1, 2019

“Just fine,” she said, and wondered who else in Maycomb still remembered Scout Finch, juvenile desperado, hell- raiser extraordinary.

From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee

Qf6, and no amount of desperadoes can deflect White’s mating attack.

From Washington Times Oct. 11, 2022

Loyalty – a fluid commodity among the town’s dirtbags and desperadoes – has remained a constant among fans.

From The Guardian Mar. 2, 2020

“It’s telling our history, about citrus wars, about Chicano murals, about the Black Panther Party, about desperadoes — all of those stories.”

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 19, 2017

His experience pursuing desperadoes and fugitives—and once being a fugitive himself—allowed Hester to think like his prey.

From Slate Mar. 4, 2016

Reports from agents and informants like Morrison suggested that several of these desperadoes had knowledge about the murders.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

You’ve turned some of the state’s women into desperados.

From Seattle Times Sep. 10, 2022

With his stocky build, unnerving gaze, five o’clock shadow and tightly wound energy, Mr. Persoff specialized in portraying gangland figures, Wild West desperados, bellicose generalissimos and Cold War heavies.

From Washington Post Apr. 6, 2022

It’s such a strong performance that in moments, despite Mr. Richet’s attention to detail — the shiny chrome, the desperados, the pretty sun-kissed color — the movie all but fades, leaving only Mr. Gibson.

From New York Times Aug. 25, 2016

Among the warring gang of desperados who make up the titular Hatefuls, Tarantino needed someone to play a convict called Daisy Domergue, wild-haired, foul-mouthed.

From The Guardian Jan. 2, 2016

With hand uplifted she called by name the desperados, who had taken shelter in the darkness and to those who now came running from front and rear where their attacks had been unsuccessful.

From The Inn at the Red Oak by Latta Griswold




Vocabulary lists containing desperado


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