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

The team desperately needs positive distractions, and bringing back a retired player for a full-circle moment creates good vibes. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026

Lots of shootouts, hand-to-hand fights and chases as Mason desperately tries to get Jessie to safety and avoid getting killed himself. —Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026

There’s a fine, touching performance, however, from Showko Showfukutei as Hana’s loving but fretful mother, desperately concerned for her daughter’s well-being but inclined to show love only through unrequired domestic service. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026

Harrowing footage circulating online shows his distraught father desperately searching among piles of bodies covered with black body bags, crying out for his missing son. —Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

desperate + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1