desperation
noun
des·per·a·tion
ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən 
1
: loss of hope and surrender to despair
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to rashness
In desperation, he fled.
Examples of desperation in a Sentence
She felt overcome by desperation.
the desperation of severe poverty
They hired me out of desperation, because they couldn't get anyone else.
Finally, in desperation, he tried to flee the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nikita and his wife, Oksana, fled Russia in desperation two years ago, believing America was their only hope of giving their three children a life free of fear and oppression.
—
Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Enter Smores, the hamster that struggling mother Linda (Best Actress nominee Rose Byrne) buys for her sick daughter (Delaney Quinn) out of desperation.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
With the Illini down two points and no timeouts left, Ivišić handed the ball off to freshman Keaton Wagler, who drove past the half-court line and launched a desperation 3-pointer with all five Wisconsin players around him and time expiring.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
As half-time approached during Sunderland’s visit, there was a growing desperation for an opener from the Emirates crowd.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperation
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Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Feb. 2026
Enter Smores, the hamster that struggling mother Linda (Best Actress nominee Rose Byrne) buys for her sick daughter (Delaney Quinn) out of desperation.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 Feb. 2026
With the Illini down two points and no timeouts left, Ivišić handed the ball off to freshman Keaton Wagler, who drove past the half-court line and launched a desperation 3-pointer with all five Wisconsin players around him and time expiring.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
As half-time approached during Sunderland’s visit, there was a growing desperation for an opener from the Emirates crowd.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperation. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
desperation
noun
des·per·a·tion
ˌdes-pə-ˈrā-shən
1
: a loss of hope and surrender to misery or dread
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to extreme recklessness
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