Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

desperately

[des-per-it-lee, -prit-] / ˈdɛs pər ɪt li, -prɪt- /


ADVERB
frightfully
Synonyms
Antonyms
WEAK


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.

See Examples For:

Claire desperately needs a charge, so she knocks on the door of her previously unmet neighbor across the hall, Oliver, to see if she can borrow the necessary device.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Clutching a photograph of his missing son, Rajesh Ram is pinning his hopes on DNA testing -- like thousands of others desperately seeking relatives swept away by Nepal's catastrophic Himalayan floods.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Maintaining the rage-filled pandemonium was most essential in supporting the stakes of the core story — a terrified, fish-out-of-water father who loses his son and desperately needs to find him.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

"By evaluating tailored, non-surgical pain management, this trial could revolutionise care - providing desperately needed support, improving daily lives, and offering long-term relief when standard treatments haven't worked."

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Someone like his best friend who desperately needed a safe place to live.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller




Vocabulary lists containing desperately


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training