desperado

noun

des·​per·​a·​do ˌde-spə-ˈrä-(ˌ)dō 

-ˈrā-

plural desperadoes or desperados

: a bold or violent criminal

especially : a bandit of the western U.S. in the 19th century

Examples of desperado in a Sentence

the notorious desperados of the Wild West

Recent Examples on the Web

The Cougars are one-score favorites, but anything goes in the desperado Big 12. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Crowds of the curious milled through the gloomy building, seeking to view the body of the most notorious desperado of the year. — Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 23 July 2026

Today, Moscow is glamorous but sealed off and duller than the 1990s desperado days. — Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026

Most are not desperados on the run. — William Morris, Des Moines Register, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably a pseudo-Spanish alteration of desperate "person in despair, person compelled by circumstances to commit violent acts," noun derivative of desperate

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for desperado

• avocado
• adelantado
• bravado
• machado
• mikado
• incommunicado

Kids Definition

desperado

noun

des·​per·​a·​do ˌdes-pə-ˈräd-ō 

-ˈrād-

plural desperadoes or desperados

: a bold or reckless criminal