DESPERATION Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

desperation

noun

ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən

Definition of desperation next

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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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of desperation The three Jeffs, likely during a moment of desperation, made an agreement to split the winnings and invited Davis to join them. —

Jonathan Odden, Artforum, 2 June 2026 Nearly one-third of California rentals offer discounts, though landlord generosity – or desperation, depending on one’s view – is higher elsewhere in the nation. —

Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 1 June 2026 Not to be outdone, Vikingo hit a desperation crucifix driver. —

Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026 The Phillies still trailed, and the move reeked of desperation from Mattingly, who is desperate because his team cannot score runs. —

Matt Gelb, New York Times, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for desperation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperation

Noun

Those raw emotions and moments of shared experience, which can be so hard to find in a fractured society, will be replicated all over the world in the coming weeks, bring families, communities and entire nations together, uniting them in hope, joy and, of course, despair.

— Oliver Kay, New York Times, 11 June 2026
On the other side of the couch, Kyle sits staring at them both, alternating between anger and grief, and although Andy didn’t spend much time trying to peel back the layers of Kyle’s despair, his aimlessness is as much at the heart of this season as anything Amanda and West did.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 10 June 2026