desperately

adverb

des·​per·​ate·​ly ˈde-sp(ə-)rət-lē 

-spərt-

1

: in a way that involves despair, extreme measures, or rashness : in a desperate manner

struggling desperately

desperately crying out

2

: extremely, terribly

desperately tired

desperately important

Synonyms of desperately

• extremely
• terribly
• badly
• incredibly
• very
• too
• so
• really
• damn
• damned
• highly
• severely
• seriously
• intensely
• that
• greatly
• far
• especially
• wildly
• fiercely
• heavily
• much

Examples of desperately in a Sentence

all of a sudden everything went desperately wrong

Recent Examples on the Web

Nakase switches it up The Valkyries desperately needed a spark after such a sluggish first half. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 13 June 2026

People desperately need reassurances that elections are decided honestly, without tricks or deception to favor a candidate or a party. —Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 13 June 2026

This class is balanced and talented and should put Sumrall in position to revive a Gators program desperately hoping to return to the national stage. —Grace Raynor, New York Times, 12 June 2026

Advertisement Barring Platner bowing out in time—which seems unlikely—Democrats are hunkering down, desperately hoping there aren’t more Platner revelations left to come out before Election Day. —Philip Elliott, Time, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

desperate + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1