desperate

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Feeling so afraid or hopeless that you will try anything to change your situation.

   Grammar: Often followed by for or to: desperate for help; desperate to leave.

   Patterns

   • desperate for something
   • desperate to do something

   She was desperate for a job after months of searching.

   The desperate hikers shouted for help.

   He was desperate to see his family.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Extremely serious or urgent, as in a bad situation.

   Grammar: Before a noun: a desperate need.

   Patterns

   • a desperate need for something
   • desperate situation

   The village faced a desperate shortage of water.

   The team was in desperate need of a win.

3. 3adjectivebefore a noun

   Done as a last attempt, with little hope and often recklessly.

   Grammar: Before a noun: a desperate attempt.

   Patterns

   • desperate attempt
   • desperate measures

   He made a desperate attempt to catch the train.

   Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Word forms

Common combinations

desperate for

They were desperate for news.

desperate attempt

A desperate attempt to escape.

desperate situation

The family was in a desperate situation.

desperate measures

Desperate measures were needed.

desperately need

We desperately need volunteers.

Synonyms and how they differ

hopeless

Means all hope is gone; desperate means still trying.

frantic

Stresses wild, anxious activity.

dire

Describes a situation only, not a person.

Opposites

Word family

desperation noun

the state of being desperate

desperately adverb

in a desperate way; very much

Commonly confused: desperate or disparate?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “desperate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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