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

Life-rafts for me who was so lonely, who desperately craved some cause for hope, nights alone in my bedroom, listening to the screams. —Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025

Her mother, Stephanie Coleman, is desperately trying to find Kylie and bring her home. —Veronica Fulton, NBC news, 18 Dec. 2025

Upon realizing this, Jennie ran several blocks through the rain, desperately hoping to find him, to no avail. —Partner Content, Variety, 17 Dec. 2025

Cartman desperately needs to get back on the Nice List. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

desperate + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1