desperation

noun

des·​per·​a·​tion ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce desperation (audio)
1
: loss of hope and surrender to despair
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to rashness

Examples of desperation in a Sentence

She felt overcome by desperation. the desperation of severe poverty They hired me out of desperation, because they couldn't get anyone else. Finally, in desperation, he tried to flee the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But before long his hearing begins to disappear, leading him down a panicked trail of denial, anger and desperation. Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025 Some resign themselves to it; others try, with seeming desperation, to stay relevant or, worse, edgy. Jem Aswad, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025 His beam wavered on a patch of blankness, or the corner of an amp, and then began to roam the stage in desperation, scanning here and scanning there—until, from the darkness, the voice of Bruce Dickinson, Iron Maiden’s singer, was heard. James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025 With the two-touchdown deficit, the Commanders were in desperation mode. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desperation

Word History

Etymology

Middle English disperacioun, desperacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French desperaciun, borrowed from Latin dēspērātiōn-, dēspērātiō, from dēspērāre "to give up as hopeless, despair of" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at despair entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desperation was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperation. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

desperation

noun
des·​per·​a·​tion ˌdes-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce desperation (audio)
1
: a loss of hope and surrender to misery or dread
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to extreme recklessness

More from Merriam-Webster on desperation

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