desperation

noun

des·​per·​a·​tion ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: loss of hope and surrender to despair

2

: a state of hopelessness leading to rashness

In desperation, he fled.

Synonyms of desperation

• despair
• sadness
• hopelessness

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

Electing Talarico would be like connecting on one of those last-second, desperation, alley-oop passes in the end zone. —Mark Barabak, Mercury News, 20 June 2026

This match finally picked up in the second half, reflecting the desperation each side had after losing their opening matches. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 June 2026

Still, Pushan Dutt, a professor of economics at INSEAD, suggests that increasing desperation by both Asian buyers and Middle Eastern producers to get things flowing again could accelerate that timeline. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 19 June 2026

Gulf States that had rushed to plan pipeline corridors to Red Sea ports, a costly, years-long infrastructure gamble driven by desperation, may now reassess those projects. —Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026

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

Rhymes for desperation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

desperation

noun

des·​per·​a·​tion ˌdes-pə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: a loss of hope and surrender to misery or dread

2

: a state of hopelessness leading to extreme recklessness