DESPERATELY Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

desperately

adverb

ˈde-sp(ə-)rət-lē

Definition of desperately

as in extremely

to a great degree all of a sudden everything went desperately wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 desperately Giffords, then 40, desperately wanted to become a mother and was undergoing fertility treatments at Bethesda Naval Hospital. — Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026 Maiklem observed that most nineteenth-century mudlarks, searching desperately for goods from the river, were women and children. — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 17 July 2026 But divine power is a dangerous weapon, especially in a town desperately in need of a savior. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 17 July 2026 Her unexplainable absences leads to a lack of hope, wisdom, and encouragement Odysseus desperately needs in peril. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for desperately

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperately

Adverb

Analyzing top player movement Changing schools is extremely common, with more than 17,000 athletes in Texas filling out a prior athletic participation form (PAPF) this past year, according to UIL executive director Jamie Harrison.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 July 2026
Here’s an outpost of a chain with some extremely personal, local touches.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026

Definition of extremely

Adverb

Unfortunately, decisions aren’t terribly effective today and according to Gartner 72% of executives say that bad decisions are as prevalent as good ones.

— Tracy Brower, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Given that humans at OpenAI had decided to turn off some safeguards for the test, some have argued the outcome should not have been terribly surprising.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026

Definition of terribly

Adverb

When planning rules protect views rather than families, something has gone badly wrong.

— Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Mohammad Taj, who travelled to Delhi from neighboring Haryana state, and whose face was badly bruised in the Monday crackdown, said the march heading to parliament had been peaceful.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of badly

Adverb

This in addition to an incredibly massive health data and tracking software and app market, which has grown significantly since the early days of the smartphone.

— Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
That’s only a 30% drop from its first weekend, an incredibly modest slide for a blockbuster.

— Lindsey Bahr, Fortune, 27 July 2026

Definition of incredibly

Adverb

Veejay is a great model and sells Naheim’s and Jeffrey’s outfits, which are both really fashionable and exciting; Jeffrey’s burgundy suit is very femme-fatale Ursula.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 July 2026
Moore has earned the praise after having a very strong spring.

— Mike Kaye July 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026

Definition of very

Adverb

Chicken satay with a restrained peanut sauce is a solid choice, too.

— Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Like Rominger, Crowfoot said the ESA can at times be too heavy handed, and said there was always room to tweak the law, particularly in an era where California is confronting a cost of living crisis some pin on regulations restricting growth.

— Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of too

Adverb

Energy is a key input into many goods and services given its broad use across the economy and so higher prices may fuel inflation.

— Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
Under Georgia law, a judge can decide whether a defendant serves that sentence in prison or on probation, so Colin Gray could be released Thursday.

— Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 July 2026

Definition of so

Adverb

But the one person who really set the whole endeavour in motion was Lenain’s beloved uncle Farid, a gay and HIV-positive man who passed away in 2013.

— Michael-Oliver Harding, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
If diversification were really the primary reason to own private equity, more capital would already be there for that reason alone.

— Carrie McCabe, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of really

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desperate

desperately

desperateness

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“Desperately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperately. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of desperately

adverb

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