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

• extremely
• terribly
• badly
• incredibly
• very
• too
• so
• really
• damn
• damned
• highly
• severely
• seriously
• intensely
• that
• greatly
• far
• wildly
• especially
• much
• heavily
• fiercely
• most

Examples of desperately in a Sentence

all of a sudden everything went desperately wrong

Recent Examples on the Web

There are many teams that desperately need pass rush help, and the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys are among those teams that might offer good draft capital. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

There’s also the unique game between Auburn’s stout defense and one of the best offensive minds in the game (interim Hogs coach Bob Petrino), who just so happens to want the Arkansas job and desperately needs a signature win to get it. —Matt Hayes, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2025

Over nerve-wracking cellphone calls, video chats and in-person conversations, the various players desperately try to figure out who fired and how, and some even question if there’s a missile at all. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025

That money, superintendents say, is desperately needed in their districts. —Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

desperate + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1