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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of desperation
With the two-touchdown deficit, the Commanders were in desperation mode.
—
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Indeed, what Yelena is such a compelling character because her caution and desperation are forever at war.
—Zachary Lee, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2025
Her pain, although unique, was familiar, as was her desperation for comfort.
—Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
Which makes Black Rabbit the kind of thriller that derives its pressure from the protagonists’ desperation to raise an impossible amount of cash in an unfeasibly short period.
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Indeed, what Yelena is such a compelling character because her caution and desperation are forever at war.
—Zachary Lee, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2025
Her pain, although unique, was familiar, as was her desperation for comfort.
—Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025
Which makes Black Rabbit the kind of thriller that derives its pressure from the protagonists’ desperation to raise an impossible amount of cash in an unfeasibly short period.
—Judy Berman, Time, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperation
Noun
-
Much of the country was in despair then as the Great Recession rolled on.—
John Dorfman,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Columnist Nancy Armour knows all about Bears despair.—
Chris Bumbaca,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Julianne cited her sisters' accomplishments in their own fields, as well as their flourishing personal lives, as a reason why the sadness never flowered into full-on resentment.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Shock, anger, sadness, disbelief were words used by multiple senior sources inside the West Wing, ABC News' Katherine Faulders said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
As history tells us, when the most vicious wars inevitably come to an end, destruction, chaos and hopelessness are left in their wake.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Today that sense of hopelessness has been replaced by a sense of determination and a good deal more hope.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share