as in despair
utter loss of hope
during the famine her desperation drove her to do things she wouldn't have normally considered
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Recent Examples of desperation
Trump’s midterm maneuvering is out of desperation, Democrats say.
—
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Chicago's pass rush was in need of a boost long before the injuries, so now, the Bears are in desperation mode on that end.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Sam Reinhart’s latest milestone started on a play of desperation.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Under this scenario, irregular migration continues, driven by desperation abroad and labor demand at home.
—Jonathan Portes, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Joey Garrison, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Chicago's pass rush was in need of a boost long before the injuries, so now, the Bears are in desperation mode on that end.
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Sam Reinhart’s latest milestone started on a play of desperation.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Under this scenario, irregular migration continues, driven by desperation abroad and labor demand at home.
—Jonathan Portes, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperation
Noun
-
Monday’s loss to the Celtics highlighted the despair in the state of the current Bulls frontcourt.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
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But Wharton, unlike the characters in her novels, never seemed to give in to despair.—
Lila Shapiro,
Vulture,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Followers and fans of Tika online expressed their sadness in the comment section.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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And in the last days of August, laughter and pot would waft over the scene, happiness laced with sadness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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However, amid the current turmoil in all three branches of our government, the show echoes a tone of hopelessness.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
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In a world fraught with real-life villains, political upheaval and a collective sense of hopelessness, fantasy steps in to inspire people to carry on, and that rings especially true for LGBTQ+ teens.—
Brittany Johnson,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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