Meaning & use
desperation
Last updated
UK/ˌdespəˈreɪʃn/
US/ˌdespəˈreɪʃn/
Meaning
noununcountable
The state of feeling so hopeless or in need that you are ready to try anything, even risky things.
Grammar: Often 'in desperation' or 'out of desperation'.
Patterns
- in desperation
- out of desperation
In desperation, he sold his car to pay the rent.
She felt a growing desperation as the deadline passed.
Out of desperation, the hikers drank river water.
Common combinations
- in desperation
- In desperation, they called every hotel.
- out of desperation
- He lied out of desperation.
- sheer desperation
- Sheer desperation drove her to apply again.
- act of desperation
- Quitting was an act of desperation.
- sense of desperation
- A sense of desperation filled the room.
Synonyms and how they differ
- despair
- Despair is losing all hope, whereas desperation includes an urge to act.
- anguish
- Anguish is deep pain or suffering, not necessarily needing action.
- hopelessness
- Hopelessness is passive, lacking the frantic edge of desperation.
Opposites
Word family
- desperate adjective
- extremely worried and ready to take risks
- desperately adverb
- in a hopeless or urgent way
- despair noun
- complete loss of hope
Commonly confused: desperation or despair?
desperation vs despair
Despair means lost hope; desperation includes driven, sometimes reckless action.
Practice
Out of ___, the stranded sailors burned their boat to signal for help.
Choose one answer.
Burning one's boat is an extreme act driven by desperation. The other nouns do not explain a drastic last resort.
Make it your own
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