desperation
noun
des·per·a·tion
ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən 
1
: loss of hope and surrender to despair
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to rashness
Synonyms
Examples of desperation in a Sentence
She felt overcome by desperation.
the desperation of severe poverty
They hired me out of desperation, because they couldn't get anyone else.
Finally, in desperation, he tried to flee the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Out of desperation came inspiration for Trang Nguyen.
—
Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2024
His win shocked pollsters and exposed the desperation of 46 million Argentines crippled by triple-digit inflation and a 40% poverty rate.
—TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
The people of Ukraine are now in all-out desperation ... and anyone who thinks that the war in Ukraine will stay in Ukraine, remember the warning of Japanese Prime Minister [Fumio] Kishida: Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024
Only in cases of extreme desperation do people buy any.
—Kate Evans Tatsiana Chypsanava, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
One week after reporting her son missing, Taylor’s desperation grew.
—Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Hendrix warned, too, of the unpredictability in what will happen ashore, where people’s desperation could create chaos, surging crowds and a new location for friction between Israeli forces and Palestinians.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
McCalla plays Marlena not as a victim but as an ever-resilient wife walking the tightrope of fidelity, fear and desperation.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
Miami’s frustration and desperation for a home win Wednesday showed in four yellow cards and a red shown David Ruiz -- which preceded the tying goal with Miami a man down.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Apr. 2024
His win shocked pollsters and exposed the desperation of 46 million Argentines crippled by triple-digit inflation and a 40% poverty rate.
—TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
The people of Ukraine are now in all-out desperation ... and anyone who thinks that the war in Ukraine will stay in Ukraine, remember the warning of Japanese Prime Minister [Fumio] Kishida: Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow.
—Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2024
Only in cases of extreme desperation do people buy any.
—Kate Evans Tatsiana Chypsanava, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2024
One week after reporting her son missing, Taylor’s desperation grew.
—Jake Allen, The Indianapolis Star, 5 Apr. 2024
Hendrix warned, too, of the unpredictability in what will happen ashore, where people’s desperation could create chaos, surging crowds and a new location for friction between Israeli forces and Palestinians.
—Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
McCalla plays Marlena not as a victim but as an ever-resilient wife walking the tightrope of fidelity, fear and desperation.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
Miami’s frustration and desperation for a home win Wednesday showed in four yellow cards and a red shown David Ruiz -- which preceded the tying goal with Miami a man down.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desperation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near desperation
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperation. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
desperation
noun
des·per·a·tion
ˌdes-pə-ˈrā-shən
1
: a loss of hope and surrender to misery or dread
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to extreme recklessness
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