desperation

noun

des·​per·​a·​tion ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: loss of hope and surrender to despair

2

: a state of hopelessness leading to rashness

Synonyms

• despair
• despond
• despondence
• despondency
• forlornness
• hopelessness

Examples of desperation in a Sentence

She felt overcome by desperation.

the desperation of severe poverty

They hired me out of desperation, because they couldn't get anyone else.

Finally, in desperation, he tried to flee the country.

Recent Examples on the Web

Judge cites booze, speed, warning in upholding murder conviction June 3, 2024 Balian and his colleagues also allege that Grossman got her family to lie out of desperation during the trial. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2024

Herrera framed the heavy spending supporting Gonzales as an indication of his own momentum and of Gonzales' desperation. —Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 29 May 2024

Image There has been a tendency to see the (impending) appointment of Kompany as a sign of Bayern’s desperation. —Rory Smith, New York Times, 24 May 2024

In a final act of desperation, anti-crypto crusaders have sought to garner bipartisan support by suggesting that crypto harms national security. —Chris Perkins, Fortune, 22 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English disperacioun, desperacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French desperaciun, borrowed from Latin dēspērātiōn-, dēspērātiō, from dēspērāre "to give up as hopeless, despair of" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at despair entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

desperation

noun

des·​per·​a·​tion ˌdes-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: a loss of hope and surrender to misery or dread

2

: a state of hopelessness leading to extreme recklessness