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
Because of the way the director works, emotions tend to be more discussed than felt, although there’s something about Carla’s desperation that pierces through all the soberness.
—
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
The seven-time All-Star went 11 of 13 with six 3-pointers, dazzling his fellow All-Stars and even prompting 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama to attempt to guard him out of desperation.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
The Guthrie family's 'hour of desperation' The Guthrie family has posted several videos on social media over the past two weeks, addressing both Savannah Guthrie's followers and a person who may have abducted Nancy Guthrie.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Zoschak said these online communities can exacerbate typical teenage emotions like loneliness and desperation.
—Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
The seven-time All-Star went 11 of 13 with six 3-pointers, dazzling his fellow All-Stars and even prompting 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama to attempt to guard him out of desperation.
—Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
The Guthrie family's 'hour of desperation' The Guthrie family has posted several videos on social media over the past two weeks, addressing both Savannah Guthrie's followers and a person who may have abducted Nancy Guthrie.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Zoschak said these online communities can exacerbate typical teenage emotions like loneliness and desperation.
—Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperation
Noun
-
If only for a moment, the despair and dread of war had been interrupted by hope.—
Yousra Elbagir,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Helplessness can beget despair.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The film’s wry brand of sadness at times recalls the work of Aki Kaurismäki, although Covi and Frimmel rarely mimic the Finnish auteur’s deadpan style of humor.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
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The two gin monoliths, like so much of the visual design of the film, gave production designer Suzie Davies and her team the chance to reach the apex of a feeling — whether anger, sadness, despair, or desire.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His motion veered between expressions of hopelessness and elaborate proposals for prisoner exchanges.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The American intelligence community has long known that insurgent groups—many of which openly seek the destruction of the United States—rely on desperation, food insecurity, and hopelessness to gain recruits.—
Hana Kiros,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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