Synonyms of desperately

desperately

adverb

ˈde-sp(ə-)rət-lē 

as in extremely

to a great degree

all of a sudden everything went desperately wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

• extremely
• terribly
• badly
• incredibly
• very
• too
• so
• really
• damn
• damned
• highly
• severely
• seriously
• intensely
• that
• greatly
• far
• especially
• wildly
• fiercely
• heavily
• much
• most
• particularly
• super
• jolly
• awfully
• exceptionally
• absolutely
• sorely
• full
• real
• fantastically
• immensely
• vitally
• mighty
• totally
• specially
• such
• fabulously
• achingly
• extra
• awful
• supremely
• mortally
• good and
• frightfully
• way
• exceedingly
• utterly
• thoroughly
• completely
• hugely
• deeply
• passing
• uncommonly
• sore
• wicked
• enormously
• rattling
• mightily
• remarkably
• dang
• roaring
• eminently
• surpassingly
• vastly
• archly
• positively
• ever
• colossally
• cracking
• whacking
• deadly
• bone
• majorly
• thumping
• almighty
• beastly
• monstrous
• a lot
• filthy
• entirely
• significantly
• roaringly
• spanking
• wholly
• fully
• stinking
• right
• blisteringly
• obviously
• visibly
• radically
• profoundly
• unco
• noticeably
• corking
• considerably
• as all get-out
• downright
• notably
• substantially
• flat-out
• extensively
• palpably
• purely
• plainly
• markedly
• excessively
• altogether
• abundantly
• plentifully
• monumentally
• obscenely
• appreciably
• amazingly
• astonishingly
• discernibly
• monstrously
• astronomically
• grandly
• staggeringly
• overmuch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• somewhat
• little
• slightly
• nominally
• just
• barely
• hardly
• scarcely
• negligibly
• marginally
• minimally
• scantily
• meagerly

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of desperately

At a time when Americans struggle to afford both their insurance premiums and their groceries, prioritizing Food as Medicine within the NYCG framework could provide the financial and health support that millions of New Yorkers desperately need. — Marian Flaxman, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026

Analysis Joveljic is regarded as one of the best finishers in MLS, and the Sounders desperately need finishing ability. — Tom Bogert, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

McMillan set the Panthers’ rookie receiving yards record in a single season; his 6-foot-5, 212-pound frame provided Young with a red zone threat and intermediate threat that the Panthers desperately needed. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

The public health challenges are vast, and effective treatments are desperately needed. — Matthew Kurtz, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2026