as in hopeless
feeling or showing no hope
desperate cancer patients who are vulnerable to the claims of unscrupulous quacks
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Recent Examples of desperate
Amid a raging wildfire, a mother’s search for her son’s plushie becomes a desperate fight to preserve his childhood innocence and her own dwindling sanity.
—
Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
The faces Byron and Cabot made, and their desperate attempt to hide away from the big screens, created the perfect viral moment, Kara Alaimo, a professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickenson University, said.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Omar is desperate to send an ambulance.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
In Marvel Zombies, after the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a desperate group of survivors discover the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking life and limb to save their world.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperate
Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025
The faces Byron and Cabot made, and their desperate attempt to hide away from the big screens, created the perfect viral moment, Kara Alaimo, a professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickenson University, said.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Omar is desperate to send an ambulance.
—Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025
In Marvel Zombies, after the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a desperate group of survivors discover the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking life and limb to save their world.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperate
Adjective
-
But the situation is not hopeless.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Dealing with the horrors of the situation in Gaza within the sterile environment of a call center, its workers are feeling increasingly hopeless, caught in the political crossfire of an escalating situation.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Both Ways on Netflix The Lovebirds In the 2020 adventure comedy The Lovebirds, Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani play an unhappy couple on the brink of splitting up.—
James Mercadante,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
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But surveys have also shown many reservists are unhappy with the cabinet's plans, some openly accusing the government of lacking a cohesive strategy, a post-war plan for Gaza or a clear benchmark for victory.—
Emily Rose,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But now, the King and the royal family have received very sad news that will change things going forward.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Shooting scenes in wide or medium shots that sometimes break into Hsiao-Lee’s harrowing point-of-view, cinematographer Yu Jing-Pin depicts a world without much color or hope, while sets by Huang Mei-Ching and Tu Shuo-Feng emphasize a sad and impoverished existence.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The pop star's fans were sorely disappointed when the first four episodes of the series' second season debuted without an appearance by Gaga, whose guest-starring role in the gothy drama has been teased by Netflix for months.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
This does not seem to be a man with skeletons in his closet and those hunting for them here will leave disappointed.—
Caleb Hammond,
IndieWire,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
People are despairing over the Supreme Court and its deference to the president.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
-
Alcaraz swung slice serves past a despairing Lehečka’s forehand, while the Czech’s deliveries leapt up off the grass, contorting Alcaraz into uncomfortable return positions.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
Nicole Kidman adds just the right amount of menace as a villainous taxidermist, but the heart of the movie lies in its celebration of kindness, decency and family—values that feel refreshingly radical in our cynical times.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
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And there is often an expectation of escapism in romance that precludes dealing realistically with money — or, for big media blockbusters, a cynical assumption that audiences won't enjoy a romcom which also takes the logistics of life seriously.—
Chelsea Fagan,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Burials have taken place at a July 11 commemoration service—a despondent attempt at closure for grieving families.—
Seema Jilani
August 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Aug. 2025
-
After the race, Hamilton sounded despondent and hinted at turmoil at his new team.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Hill’s 21-year-old son told WXYZ that his whole family is heartbroken.—
Jennifer Rodriguez,
Kansas City Star,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Over the past half-decade, the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has been called off three times, leaving behind unrealized lineups, swampy farmlands, and heartbroken fans.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperate. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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