Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective desperate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of desperate are despairing, despondent, and hopeless. While all these words mean "having lost all or nearly all hope," desperate implies despair that prompts reckless action or violence in the face of defeat or frustration.

one last desperate attempt to turn the tide of battle

Where would despairing be a reasonable alternative to desperate?

While the synonyms despairing and desperate are close in meaning, despairing suggests the slipping away of all hope and often despondency.

despairing appeals for the return of the kidnapped child

When might despondent be a better fit than desperate?

The words despondent and desperate can be used in similar contexts, but despondent implies a deep dejection arising from a conviction of the uselessness of further effort.

despondent about yet another rejection

In what contexts can hopeless take the place of desperate?

The meanings of hopeless and desperate largely overlap; however, hopeless suggests despair and the cessation of effort or resistance and often implies acceptance or resignation.

the situation of the trapped miners is hopeless

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of desperate One-word answers litter the path toward your desperate, fumbling attempt to get away. Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 1 Oct. 2025 When Hernán helps Julia and her young daughter, Maribel, navigate treacherous borderlands, their desperate journey triggers the wrath of a ruthless trafficking syndicate. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025 Rachel reflects on how desperate Jon was for validation at the end of last year. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025 As such, the political and militant body – which has governed the territory since June 2007 – will need to be in a desperate situation to accept the terms. Asher Kaufman, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desperate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperate
Adjective
  • The bubble-ists think that the Coreweave people are hopeless dreamers at best and shysters at worst.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Since then, the song has been yearned for by hopeless romantics on TikTok, with videos featuring the song racking up millions of views, similar to the ones Iris posted herself.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Smart, much like Georgia’s fan base, is pretty unhappy after yet another loss to Alabama.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
  • While there are reasons to be unhappy with the performance, each win in the NFL is hard to get.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • One purveyor of fairy tales that wasn’t afraid of a sad ending?
    Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Sade Bess, a Combs fan from Brooklyn, left the court’s overflow observation room looking both sad and relieved.
    Jennifer Peltz, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The actor went on to say that he was disappointed to miss the Grey’s Anatomy tribute.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The Mavs are not too concerned, or disappointed, that their franchise-altering player will make his debut with the team 40 miles west of Dallas.
    Mac Engel October 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Exhausted and despairing, many Palestinians had their own reasons for refusing to pack up and uproot themselves again.
    WAFAA SHURAFA, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
  • People are despairing over the Supreme Court and its deference to the president.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • The director plays up the humor a lot more than Westlake’s callously cynical prose, for better or worse.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
  • When the fortune teller’s predictions start to materialize, once cynical Gemma is ready to take a leap of faith.
    Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Michael Cole was despondent during his distant commentary of the women’s WWE Tag Team Championship match.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • The most painful part, the tragedy of our lives, was that Brenda was heartbroken.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
  • This isn't the first time the internet has been left heartbroken when a dog didn't want to play.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperate. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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