desperate

des-per-ate · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Feeling, showing, or involving despair; having lost all hope.

  2. 2.

    (Of an action) Tried in despair when everything else has failed; reckless because of despair.

  3. 3.

    Having a great need or desire for something.

  4. 4.

    (Of a situation) Extremely serious or dangerous.

Related words

Antonyms: calm, composed, hopeful, optimistic
See also: despair, desperately, desperation
Synonyms: despairing, dire, frantic, hopeless, urgent

Etymology

From Latin desperatus, past participle of desperare meaning "to be without hope," from de- meaning "without" and sperare meaning "to hope."