desperately

adverb

des·​per·​ate·​ly ˈde-sp(ə-)rət-lē How to pronounce desperately (audio)
-spərt-
Synonyms of desperatelynext
1
: in a way that involves despair, extreme measures, or rashness : in a desperate manner
struggling desperately
desperately crying out
2
: extremely, terribly
desperately tired
desperately important

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of desperately in a Sentence

all of a sudden everything went desperately wrong
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Rigid maximalist demands won’t deliver the future Palestinians desperately need. — Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2025 That makes Carter a surefire top-five pick, potentially even taken first overall over quarterback Cam Ward by the Titans, who desperately need a new starting QB. — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025 As someone who was desperately looking for more comfortable running shoes while using Salomons for all things fitness, these were lifesavers. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 14 Mar. 2025 The exception is Marin Ireland’s Mina, who has an early brush with death that leaves her whispering and irritated for the rest of the series, and lets Ireland play a zero-patience intensity (and wry humor) that the series desperately needs. — Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desperately

Word History

Etymology

desperate + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desperately was circa 1547

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Desperately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperately. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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