as in hopeless
feeling or showing no hope
desperate cancer patients who are vulnerable to the claims of unscrupulous quacks
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of desperate
Knives are clutched, teeth are clenched, and a desperate Russian ex-pat yells loud enough for their long-dead ancestors to hear all the way back in the motherland.
—
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Less than six months before the 2026 midterm elections, however, the concern over Martin’s leadership is, at best, an unwanted distraction for a party desperate to break the Republican Party’s grip on power in Washington.
—Steve Peoples, Twin Cities, 13 May 2026
Los Angeles is desperate for more of your money.
—Susan Shelley, Daily News, 13 May 2026
But a life sentence won’t stop a desperate father.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperate
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Less than six months before the 2026 midterm elections, however, the concern over Martin’s leadership is, at best, an unwanted distraction for a party desperate to break the Republican Party’s grip on power in Washington.
—Steve Peoples, Twin Cities, 13 May 2026
Los Angeles is desperate for more of your money.
—Susan Shelley, Daily News, 13 May 2026
But a life sentence won’t stop a desperate father.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for desperate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperate
Adjective
-
That reality makes the climb for promising teams like the Magic feel almost hopeless.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
To Some New Island Guests With a competitive streak a mile wide, Penny (Roorbach) is charming, popular, and a hopeless romantic – for now, anyway.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
With the Mets taking a 2-1 lead, Rodón, clearly unhappy, appeared to curse at himself as Austin Wells patted him on the shoulder.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
17 May 2026
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Janet reportedly attended an early private screening of the rough cut of the film and walked away pretty unhappy.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The failure of so many in the political world to speak up displays a sad and growing moral bankruptcy.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
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Don’t be sad — this is not a farewell forever.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Because when that game was over and the disappointed fans filed out of the stadium, many walked toward a city center now vibrant and busy; one featuring a community market, cultural space and an art gallery.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
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The phosphate and fertilizer producer fell 5% after its first-quarter earnings disappointed.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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Still, Ohm is more despairing and miserable than any of the wretched worms Scott has acted to date.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Irony doesn’t have to be nihilistic or despairing.—
Aaron Matz,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Governor Gavin Newsom's office defended the framework, calling protests against Hernandez a cynical attempt to weaponize the debate.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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In season three, this argument has largely taken a cynical, nihilistic turn.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Nets owner Joe Tsai, the team’s representative in the lottery drawing room, was despondent.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
All of the drama in this working-class community — wedged between Westminster and Thornton and less than 2 square miles in size — has longtime resident Jim Fenimore, 70, feeling despondent.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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So, understandably, they were left heartbroken after discovering the dog had escaped his yard on Chicago's Northwest Side.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
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The Beckhams, who sold their crash pad in One Museum Tower in downtown Miami, but maintain a spec house in Miami Beach, are said to be heartbroken about the estrangement.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Desperate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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