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   desperate

   /ˈdɛsp(ə)rət/

   adjective

   • 1. feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad as to be impossible to deal with: "a desperate sadness enveloped Ruth" Similar despairinghopelessanguisheddistressedin despairsuicidalmiserablewretcheddesolateforlorndishearteneddiscourageddemoralizeddevastateddowncastresigneddefeatistpessimisticdistraughtfraughtovercomeout of one's mindat one's wits' endbeside oneselfat the end of one's tetherliterary:dolorousOpposite cheerfulcomposed
   • ▪ (of an act) tried in despair or when everything else has failed: "drugs used in a desperate attempt to save his life" Similar last-ditchlast-chancelast-resortlast-minutelast-gaspeleventh-hourall-outdo-or-diefinalfranticfrenziedwildstrainingfutilehopelessdoomedlost
   • ▪ (of a situation) extremely serious or dangerous: "there is a desperate shortage of teachers" Similar graveseriousdangerousriskyperiloushazardousprecariouscriticalacutedirevery badcalamitousappallingawfulterriblefrightfuldreadfuloutrageousintolerabledeplorablelamentablesorrypoorhopelessirretrievableinformal:lousychronicarchaic, humorous:parlousurgentpressingcompellingcryingacutecriticalcrucialvitaldrasticseriousgravedireextremegreatformal:exigent
   • ▪ (of a person) violent or dangerous: "a desperate criminal" Similar violentdangerouslawlessrecklessrashhastyimpetuousfoolhardyincautiousdeath-or-glorydo-or-diehazardousrisky
   • ▪ very bad: informal Irish "that beer's desperate—it's a wonder you've the nerve to offer it for sale"
   • 2. (of a person) having a great need or desire for something: "I am desperate for a cigarette" Similar in great need ofurgently requiringcravingin want oflackingwantingeagerachinglongingyearninghungrythirstythirstingitchingcrying outdesirousinformal:dying

   Word Origin late Middle English (in the sense ‘in despair’): from Latin desperatus ‘deprived of hope’, past participle of desperare (see despair).

   Derivatives

   • 1. desperateness noun

   Scrabble Points: 12

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   • E

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