Synonyms of desperation

desperation

noun

ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən 

as in despair

utter loss of hope

during the famine her desperation drove her to do things she wouldn't have normally considered

Synonyms & Similar Words

• despair
• sadness
• hopelessness
• sorrow
• depression
• melancholy
• agony
• misery
• despondence
• despondency
• forlornness
• oppression
• resignation
• slough of despond
• pain
• distress
• unhappiness
• sorrowfulness
• dejection
• gloom
• despond
• acceptance
• mournfulness
• joylessness
• self-pity
• gloominess
• dreariness
• blues
• dumps
• cynicism
• desolation
• pessimism
• blue devils
• doldrums
• dolor
• wretchedness
• woe
• mopes
• downheartedness
• self-despair
• dispiritedness
• disconsolateness
• woefulness
• dolefulness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hope
• hopefulness
• optimism
• cheerfulness
• cheer
• mirth
• glee
• joy
• gayety
• elation
• ecstasy
• merriment
• exuberance
• gaiety
• joviality
• happiness
• sunniness
• euphoria
• jollity
• exultation
• exhilaration
• lightheartedness
• jubilation
• bliss
• rapture
• joyousness
• joyfulness
• gladness
• gleefulness
• mirthfulness
• blissfulness
• elatedness
• rapturousness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of desperation

The mashup finds common ground over both the romantic desperation that the songs share lyrically and the depressing lyrics, sung beautifully over tropical, upbeat music. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025

But the smell of desperation is still palpable, Axios Closer author Nathan Bomey writes. —Mike Allen, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025

Different teams, all the way to the non-playoff teams, have different levels of desperation right now. —Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025

This mystically exacting wordplay is spell-binding—fitting for a record that steeps its themes of desperation and addiction in a heady brew of alchemy and witchcraft. —Meaghan Garvey, Pitchfork, 3 Apr. 2025