Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Showing results for desperate. Search instead for despertarse.
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.

"And I lived that as an early teen. I was desperate for the monogram Gucci washbag."

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Mourinho is under contract with Benfica until 2027 but can come out of it, and whatever he says publicly, my understanding is that he is desperate to return to the Bernabeu.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

We got to be the most desperate team and that’s how we have been playing and that’s how we are winning, right?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026

It’s just like Mom with her apology at the panel—to my parents, I’ve dirtied the name Meyer, and they’re desperate to prove it’s only me who’s bad.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Vocabulary lists containing desperate

List 8

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"Sorry, Wrong Number," Vocabulary from the play

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Commonly Misspelled Words, List 4

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!