as in hopeless
feeling or showing no hope
desperate cancer patients who are vulnerable to the claims of unscrupulous quacks
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desperate
Rescue teams continue the desperate search for survivors, some even digging with their hands, as tens of thousands of people are still presumed to be missing in Venezuela five days after twin earthquakes struck.
—
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
They were joined by a growing number of international rescue teams, who pulled multiple survivors from the wreckage, offering desperate families a rare glimmer of hope.
—
Abigail Williams,
NBC news,
29 June 2026
Weiss’ latest, desperate gambit was giving Kim three straight starts at San Francisco over the weekend.
—
Michael Cunningham,
AJC.com,
29 June 2026
Off a long, seemingly desperate cross, Michael Gregoritsch headed the ball to Sasa Kalajdzic, who in turn headed the pass into the net to equalize.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperate
Camilo Montoya-Galvez,
CBS News,
29 June 2026
They were joined by a growing number of international rescue teams, who pulled multiple survivors from the wreckage, offering desperate families a rare glimmer of hope.
—
Abigail Williams,
NBC news,
29 June 2026
Weiss’ latest, desperate gambit was giving Kim three straight starts at San Francisco over the weekend.
—
Michael Cunningham,
AJC.com,
29 June 2026
Off a long, seemingly desperate cross, Michael Gregoritsch headed the ball to Sasa Kalajdzic, who in turn headed the pass into the net to equalize.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperate
Adjective
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The conflict feels contemporary without growing too cynical, and the core relationship stakes seem real without skewing hopeless.
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The situation of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank would almost certainly worsen and become more hopeless.
Adjective
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Isdin Melatonik If traditional retinoids have left your sensitive skin unhappy, Isdin's Melatonik Recovery Night Serum offers a gentler approach with bakuchiol.
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Brown and the Celtics have both since denied speculation that the 29-year-old second-team All-NBA selection was unhappy with his role in Boston.
Adjective
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Then Greene takes a long, sad subway ride home, and America learns that one of their favorite TV doctors isn't flawless.
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Local foodies were sad to hear owner Sylvia Chung (Momma Chung) retired and closed the south Fort Worth restaurant in October of last year.
Adjective
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Around midday, a group of disappointed Alaskans emerged from their state’s pavilion with exasperation.
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And yet fans are still entitled to feel disappointed not to see one of the world’s most thrilling footballers in a game like this.
Adjective
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His shot, low and hard and uncorked with minimal back-lift of his left foot, bounced through the gap between the despairing goalkeeper and his near post.
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After 25 years, you'd be forgiven for thinking — despairing, really — that the formula for a perfect Scary Movie has been forgotten.
Adjective
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Traditionally cynical and perceptive commentators—not to mention a lot of tired citizens—found themselves, in some accounts, overcome by an unexpected wave of patriotic sentimentality that washed away, at least for a moment, their gnawing doubts.
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Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
Adjective
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The latest installment out of imagination emporium Pixar finds Bonnie’s beloved toys despondent over the arrival of Lilypad.
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After Friday’s Nations Cup team event at Jumping International de La Baule, Steve Guerdat walked away from the arena despondent.
Adjective
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The courtroom was packed with heartbroken supporters wanting justice for Jor'Dynn as each woman stood silent in front of the judge.
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There is nothing more evocative of a pure Love Island experience than a heartbroken rage split in costume.
Cite this Entry
“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperate. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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