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Showing results for desperate. Search instead for desperata.
Definitions

desperate

[des-per-it, -prit] / ˈdɛs pər ɪt, -prɪt /
ADJECTIVE
reckless, outrageous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bold dangerous daring determined frantic frenzied furious violent
STRONG
madcap precipitate rash wild
WEAK
atrocious audacious careless death-defying devil-may-care foolhardy hasty hazardous headlong headstrong heinous impetuous incautious monstrous risky scandalous shocking venturesome
Antonyms
STRONGEST
afraid calm cowardly fearful meek mild moderate peaceful quiet shy timid weak
WEAK
content contented hopeful satisfactory satisfied secure unworried
ADJECTIVE
extreme, intense
Synonyms
STRONGEST
critical dire fierce furious great terrible urgent violent
STRONG
acute climacteric
WEAK
concentrated crucial drastic exquisite vehement very grave vicious
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm gentle good mild moderate nice peaceful trivial unimportant
WEAK
content contented hopeful satisfactory satisfied secure unworried
ADJECTIVE
hopeless
Synonyms
STRONGEST
despondent forlorn futile sad vain
STRONG
downcast goner
WEAK
at end of one's rope back to the wall can't win dead duck despairing desponding gone hard up in the soup in the toilet inconsolable irrecoverable irremediable irretrievable no chance no-win running out of time sunk up against it up the creek useless wretched
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheerful happy hopeful joyful
WEAK
calm confident content contented satisfactory satisfied secure unworried

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.

Noelia Castillo Ramos’s death wasn’t an exercise of freedom but a desperate response to its erosion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Quelch said at an event in 2017, “Even when things looked desperate, his confidence gave us confidence.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Non-verbal, biting and unable to sit still, her daughter Rachael, who had been diagnosed with autism, had slowly overwhelmed Martha leaving her desperate and depressed.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

When the final whistle sounded following a final corner kick from the desperate Galaxy, some in the crowd of 22,447 booed.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026

She knew Patience was right, but she was so desperate to find Mama and Tía Beatriz again.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.