 desperate |
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| 1. | [ adjective ] arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope | |
| Synonyms: | despairing | |
| Examples: | "a despairing view of the world situation" "the last despairing plea of the condemned criminal" "a desperate cry for help" "helpless and desperate--as if at the end of his tether" "desperate screams" |
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| Related terms: | hopeless | |
| 2. | [ adjective ] desperately determined | |
| Synonyms: | do-or-die | |
| Examples: | "do-or-die revolutionaries" "a do-or-die conflict" |
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| Related terms: | resolute | |
| 3. | [ adjective ] showing extreme courage; especially of actions courageously undertaken in desperation as a last resort | |
| Synonyms: | heroic | |
| Examples: | "made a last desperate attempt to reach the climber" "they took heroic measures to save his life" |
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| Related terms: | brave | |
| 4. | [ adjective ] (of persons) dangerously reckless or violent as from urgency or despair | |
| Examples: | "a desperate criminal" "taken hostage of desperate men" |
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| Related terms: | dangerous | |
| 5. | [ noun ] a person who is frightened and in need of help | |
| Examples: | "they prey on the hopes of the desperate" |
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| Related terms: | unfortunate goner despair | |
| 6. | [ adjective ] showing extreme urgency or intensity especially because of great need or desire | |
| Examples: | "felt a desperate urge to confess" "a desperate need for recognition" |
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| Related terms: | imperative | |
| 7. | [ adjective ] fraught with extreme danger; nearly hopeless | |
| Synonyms: | dire | |
| Examples: | "a desperate illness" "on all fronts the Allies were in a desperate situation due to lack of materiel"- G.C.Marshall "a dire emergency" |
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| Related terms: | critical | |
| Similar spelling: |
desperately Desper desperation desperado disperse Despres despair |
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