desperate

7 synonyms and 7 antonyms for desperate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Willing to do almost anything because you urgently need something; driven by extreme need.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

frantic dire urgent reckless hopeless heroic

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

despairing

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Willing to do almost anything because you urgently need something; driven by extreme need.

“Desperate for a place to sleep, they knocked on every door in the village.”

frantic dire urgent despairing reckless hopeless heroic

2. adjective

So serious or dangerous that there seems to be little hope; extremely dire.

“With the river rising fast and no help in sight, the villagers' plight looked desperate.”

Opposites

promising hopeful propitious remediable

3. adjective

Reckless because you feel you have no other choice; willing to take drastic risks.

“Feeling desperate, the driver tried a risky overtake on a blind bend.”

Opposites

cool calm cautious

How to use desperate

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

desperate for desperate measures a desperate attempt grow desperate

Etymology

From Latin desperatus, "without hope" — built from de- ("without") and sperare ("to hope").

Full origin of desperate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “desperate” mean?

The word “desperate” means willing to do almost anything because you urgently need something; driven by extreme need. In plain terms, so badly in need, or so hopeless, that you'll take any risk.

How do you pronounce “desperate”?

“Desperate” is pronounced DEHS-priht (/ˈdɛs.p(ə.)ɹɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “desperate” in a sentence?

Here is “desperate” used in a sentence: “She grew desperate for cash after losing her job.”

What part of speech is “desperate”?

“Desperate” is an adjective.

Where does the word “desperate” come from?

The word “desperate” comes from Latin. From Latin desperatus, "without hope" — built from de- ("without") and sperare ("to hope").

Is “desperate” a common word?

“Desperate” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “desperate” have?

“Desperate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: willing to do almost anything because you urgently need something; driven by extreme need.

What is the difference between "desperate" and "hopeless"?

"Hopeless" means there is no hope at all, while "desperate" describes the frantic, driven state of someone acting because they urgently need something despite little hope. A situation can feel desperate precisely because the person still wants a way out.

What is the difference between "desperate" and "eager"?

Both express strong wanting, but "eager" is a positive, keen enthusiasm, while "desperate" suggests anxious, urgent need driven by difficulty or lack. You are "eager" to start a fun trip but "desperate" to escape a bad situation.

What is the difference between "desperate" and "dire"?

"Dire" describes a situation that is extremely serious or urgent, while "desperate" can describe either such a situation or the frantic person reacting to it. You might say "dire circumstances" and "a desperate attempt" to escape them.

People also searched

cool calm urgent promising heroic reckless cautious hopeless dire hopeful frantic remediable

Nearby words

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