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

To help make the playoffs, the Sharks desperately need to get off to a better start this season than in previous years. — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 16 July 2026

The number of households paying the BBC license fee plummeted last year at a time when the corporation is desperately seeking a revamp of its funding model. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 July 2026

Mbappé had a chance for a critical goal in the 67th minute but his shot careened wide, and France remained scoreless as Les Bleus desperately searched for a scoring chance. — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente will be desperately hoping star winger Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 yesterday, can find the sort of electric form that helped fire La Roja to the European title two years ago. — David Hickey, NBC news, 14 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

desperate + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1