1 a
: having lost hope - a desperate spirit crying for relief
b
: giving no ground for hope - the outlook was desperate
2 a
: moved by despair or utter loss of hope - victims made desperate by abuse
b
: involving or employing extreme measures in an attempt to escape defeat or frustration - made a desperate leap for the rope
3
: suffering extreme need or anxiety - celebrities desperate for attention
4
: involving extreme danger or possible disaster
5
: of extreme intensity - … a desperate languor descended heavily upon her, and she slept …
- —Elinor Wylie