as in despair
utter loss of hope
during the famine her desperation drove her to do things she wouldn't have normally considered
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Recent Examples of desperation
Folks who see themselves in Mary’s desperation might view the film in more despairing terms, but this is perhaps Leigh’s most life-goes-on effort.
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
Somehow, desperation is delivered back to us as something like hope.
—Mitch Therieau, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2024
Then interim head coach Thomas Brown sent the punt team on the field, only to change his mind, burn a timeout with the clock stopped, put the offense back out there, and watch Caleb Williams pull a rabbit out of his hat with a desperation throw to wide receiver DJ Moore.
—Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
The shelling in recent weeks has compounded the desperation.
—Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desperation 
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
Somehow, desperation is delivered back to us as something like hope.
—Mitch Therieau, The New Yorker, 27 Dec. 2024
Then interim head coach Thomas Brown sent the punt team on the field, only to change his mind, burn a timeout with the clock stopped, put the offense back out there, and watch Caleb Williams pull a rabbit out of his hat with a desperation throw to wide receiver DJ Moore.
—Kevin Fishbain, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
The shelling in recent weeks has compounded the desperation.
—Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 21 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desperation
Thesaurus Entries Near desperation
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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