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
But even the most easygoing athletes realize that the desperation of a losing bettor can lead to scary places.
—
Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
There was a desperation and sense of, ‘Look at me.
—Leena Tailor, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Riley is not alone in his desperation.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
In the Patriot League semifinals, the Midshipmen were upset by Boston University by one point on a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
—Mac Engel
march 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2026
There was a desperation and sense of, ‘Look at me.
—Leena Tailor, HollywoodReporter, 12 Mar. 2026
Riley is not alone in his desperation.
—Corky Siemaszko, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
In the Patriot League semifinals, the Midshipmen were upset by Boston University by one point on a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.
—Mac Engel
march 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperation
Noun
-
Cala di Lucia Rosa is said to be named after a resident who threw herself from the cliff in despair after her father forced her to marry a wealthy suitor instead of her true love, a farmer.—
Kristina Kasparian,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Only the Clippers came out flat, never landed that first punch and hope quickly turned to despair.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Furthermore, fully remote employees are also more likely to report experiencing anger, sadness and loneliness than hybrid and on-site workers, Gallup said.—
Bob Helbig,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Carefully avoiding quick judgement and slowly uncovering a long history of violence, injustices and destruction, the young filmmaker exposes the deep sadness of a once upon a time joyful and prosperous environment.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Johnson said depression often manifests as persistent negative self-perception, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and social withdrawal.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
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If your friend or family member is struggling to keep up with daily responsibilities, constantly ruminating about relationship issues, or expressing a sense of hopelessness, consider bringing it up, says Francesca Emma, a therapist in New York.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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