as in hopeless
feeling or showing no hope
desperate cancer patients who are vulnerable to the claims of unscrupulous quacks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desperate
On the floor above a woman sweeps the floor, an act of absurdity that doubles as bravery, the whole scene a desperate attempt at normalcy in a world that has become anything but.
—
Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Kennedy has argued that the 13 separate agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services, including the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institute of Health, are in desperate need of reform.
—Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 4 Nov. 2024
The first pits the Indianapolis Colts against the Minnesota Vikings, two teams in desperate need of a victory, on Sunday Night Football.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
With the youth mental health crisis worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and school violence affecting more K-12 students nationwide, teachers are desperate for a solution, experts say.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 2 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desperate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperate
Adjective
-
The cyclical nature of symptoms can leave you feeling hopeless and out of control.Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 27 Nov. 2024
-
His performance, inhabiting the sad, addicted, stricken, sick and hopeless romantic Lee is already being lauded as Oscar season begins.Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The answer is that immigrants and minorities, particularly working-class ones, are unhappy with the economy and much else.Basel Touchan, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
-
The measures come as a cost-of-living crisis has left voters unhappy with Trudeau and ahead of an election that could come anytime between this fall and next October.Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
After a few training montages and a brief interview with facility manager Didi (Stephanie Beatriz), Charles moves into Pacific View to begin the process of meeting the staff and fellow residents, who are variously enthusiastic and sad, bored and over-programmed, lonely and horny.Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024
-
Last year, Ficklin was feeling a little sad and anxious about moving out of her family’s home of 23 years.Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Stephen Colbert, who was disappointed that he was not crowned yet again, was soon visited by Krasinki, as all winners do every year since Paul Rudd.Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
-
Grace, however, was disappointed and angry that the poster was still going to the concert.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
There’s a larger point to be gleaned from The Platform 2’s despairing ending.A.A. Dowd, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024
-
The letters—candid, yearning, at times despairing—were potentially the couple’s most valuable asset, and Horowitz had priced them at $200,000.Tad Friend, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
Despite Democrats framing this election as a battle over the fate of democracy, their refusal to give any ground to pro-lifers revealed the whole message as a cynical scam.Paul Macrae, Baltimore Sun, 26 Nov. 2024
-
Grotesque inequalities of income, wealth, opportunity, and power have caused most Americans to feel angry, surly, cynical, and ready to take a wrecking ball to the whole system.Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The drummer, who’s suffering from a severe vertebrae injury similar to Phil Collins’s, is unable to tour ever again and remains despondent that Roth behaved in this manner.Devon Ivie, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2024
-
Ryan seemed particularly despondent after the fight during her interview with ESPN's Mark Kriegel, who scored the fight in her favor.Brian Mazique, Forbes, 28 Sep. 2024
Adjective
-
Monét began her tweet with five heartbroken emojis.Anna Chan, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Animal lovers have been left heartbroken by a dog who has already been adopted and returned to the shelter twice in her young life.David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024
Articles Related to desperate
Thesaurus Entries Near desperate
Cite this Entry
“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperate. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share