Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective desperate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of desperate are despairing, despondent, and hopeless. While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.

one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle

Where would despairing be a reasonable alternative to desperate?

While the synonyms despairing and desperate are close in meaning, despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

When might despondent be a better fit than desperate?

The words despondent and desperate can be used in similar contexts, but despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

In what contexts can hopeless take the place of desperate?

The meanings of hopeless and desperate largely overlap; however, hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

Example 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 Russia is on the verge of collapse and Trump/Vance are desperate to save them. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025 The 96-year-old historic Black church is in desperate need of repair. Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025 This, of course, is at a moment when Hollywood is desperate to make the theatrical moviegoing experience itself relatable again to a distracted public. Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025 No, the problem is that Hart is terribly sad and even more lonely — almost desperate, in fact. David Opie, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desperate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperate
Adjective
  • The dance begin and the people are hopeless, bumping into one another but totally enjoying the experience.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The 60-year-old actress — who has famously portrayed hopeless romantic Charlotte York on the SATC franchise since 1998 — got candid about her brief romance with Alec Baldwin on a recent episode of Rob Lowe's Literally!
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Penguins listed Bunting as a healthy scratch early this season because coaches were unhappy with his effort in games and practices.
    Josh Yohe, The Athletic, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Independent distributors are unhappy with the growing percentage of royalty payments for their artists that are too low to be worth processing.
    Bill Rosenblatt, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Oklahoma represents the sad conclusion of the Trail of Tears, and Tulsa serves as the meeting point for tribal nations—the Osage, Muscogee, and Cherokee.
    Nicholas Lalla, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Police sad officers began providing aid to Mitchell, but medics later pronounced him dead at the scene.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • So when it was announced that the Indianapolis Colts would be the team to play in Berlin, the Kansas City Chiefs were very disappointed.
    Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The itinerary Our first glimpse of St. Pierre revealed colorful homes, wild ocean views, and a couple of seals, to the backdrop of rainfall, which brought some disappointed sighs from the true cold seekers.
    Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Western allies of the United States gathered in Munich this past week, anxious, adrift and despairing in the face of President Trump’s brute display of muscle-flexing on the global stage.
    Mark Landler, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Bleak as that may sound, the musical finds rare shards of light — and an unlikely connection — in the most despairing of places.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Some who do have a cynical view — asking what good was it for people to risk that bridge crossing for Black freedom when young Black people are killing one another in Selma today?
    Marisa Peñaloza, NPR, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The cynical Pia is not interested but agrees to her family setting her up on five blind dates, but with her sister's wedding looming and her high school sweetheart serving as best man to the groom, chaos is right around the corner.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Her despondent facial reaction even became a meme online.
    Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Instead, Larson will win it behind the strength of Hendrick Motorsports, the New York Yankees of NASCAR — setting him up for another championship-contending Cup season and leaving all motorsport storytellers despondent, wondering what could’ve been.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The record for the shortest Oscar-winning performance goes to Beatrice Straight, who played the heartbroken wife of a philandering TV station president in Sidney Lumet’s 1976 film Network.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Listen to this article Skokie restaurateurs were left heartbroken on Valentine’s Day when a broken water main disaster in northeastern Skokie left the village without drinkable tap water from Feb. 14 through 16.
    Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperate. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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