as in hopeless
feeling or showing no hope
desperate cancer patients who are vulnerable to the claims of unscrupulous quacks
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desperate
The quiet city of Medford, Oregon was shaken by Maggie Friar's desperate 911 call in the early morning hours of Oct. 2, 2017.
—
Natalie Morales, Richard Fetzer, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025
In the evolutionary conflict between predatory females and desperate males, the Asian hermit spider has turned self-castration into a survival tactic and a reproductive advantage.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The historian is on a desperate search for the legendary Templar Treasure before others can take it for themselves.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The desperate Heat kept its season alive with a 109-90 must-win play-in triumph that saw domination from the start against a Bulls side that had been 3-0 vs. Miami during the season.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperate
Natalie Morales, Richard Fetzer, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2025
In the evolutionary conflict between predatory females and desperate males, the Asian hermit spider has turned self-castration into a survival tactic and a reproductive advantage.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The historian is on a desperate search for the legendary Templar Treasure before others can take it for themselves.
—Sam Gillette, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
The desperate Heat kept its season alive with a 109-90 must-win play-in triumph that saw domination from the start against a Bulls side that had been 3-0 vs. Miami during the season.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperate
Adjective
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Feeling hopeless in her quest to stop Crawford and help Delia get her life back, Elsbeth confronts the boastful judge, who is riding high on his rising star and his triumph over her.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2025
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The hopeless woman grasps her head with one hand and checks her baby’s cheek with the other.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Kraft had strong leads among some voting groups polled, the poll showed, including Republicans, voters who disapprove of Boston’s sanctuary city status, those unhappy with Boston’s quality of life, and those prioritizing government spending/taxes.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2025
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Among those Americans unhappy with the cuts to the federal government, Musk has only a 6% approval rating, while 89% disapprove.—
Catherine Arnst,
Quartz,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
If my random and unscientific survey of some French opinion at all represents the nation’s as a whole, then the debut of Donald Trump’s America has left some French triste — a bit sad, even brokenhearted, and also wary and vigilant.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2025
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Her story is beautiful and sad, heartwarming and devastating.—
American Booksellers Association,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
Adjective
-
Bitcoin’s performance in recent months at first disappointed traders as the bitcoin price fell along with stocks in the face of Trump’s escalating trade war.—
Billy Bambrough,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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Last year, Carey admitted to being slightly disappointed when she wasn’t selected to be part of the Hall’s class of 2024.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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These lines represent Elisabeth at her most despairing.—
Elizabeth Djinis,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Apr. 2025
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By turns giddy, anxious, and despairing, these poems have endeared him to generations of ordinary readers who find in the tempestuous and ultimately brokenhearted poet a strikingly modern and profoundly accessible figure.—
Daniel Mendelsohn,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Lee’s cynical cardsharp of a brother, Julius (Jacob Elordi), was meant to be part of that dream move, but the call of gambling takes Julius to Las Vegas instead.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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Now, posters are more cynical and there’s a fatalist bent to the conversations that wasn’t there before.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Indeed, in private, many people in the business, media, and think-tank worlds are frustrated with and despondent about the atmosphere in China.—
RANA MITTER,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
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Become despondent over a breakup with her boyfrend?—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The recent tragic helicopter crash into the Hudson River, which claimed six lives, has left our city heartbroken and once again grappling with difficult questions about public safety and aviation policy.—
Keith Powers,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2025
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The heartbroken couple spent days looking for Valerie but eventually had to return to their lives in Broken Hill, New South Wales.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperate. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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