desperation Definition
des·pera·tion (des′pər ā′s̸hən)
noun
- the state of being desperate
- recklessness resulting from despair
Etymology: ME desperacioun < L desperatio
desperation Synonyms
desperation
n.
Hopelessness
despair, distress, despondency, depression, discomfort, dejection, distraction, desolation, disconsolateness, anxiety, dread, panic, anguish, agony, melancholy, grief, worry, trouble, pain, torture, pang, heartache, concern, misery, urgency, gravity, desperateness, exigency; see also fear 2, gloom 2, necessity 3.Antonyms
hope*, hopefulness, confidence. * Rashness
frenzy, recklessness, foolhardiness; see carelessness.
desperation Usage Examples
Converse of object
- convey: Don't apologize for your age, lack of recent relevant experience, and do not convey desperation.
- reveal: Research of today's would-be FTBs, carried out on behalf of Yorkshire Building Society, has revealed the extreme desperation of many.
- increase: With increasing desperation are they are trying to find ways of getting you to pay for their party.
- grow: Out of his predicament grew desperation, out of desperation grew resentment.
- show: It shows the desperation of a couple, forced to emigrate with their young family by lack of opportunities at home.
- feel: These people end up feeling a great desperation in their quest, either feeling not worthy enough or terminally blocked in some way.
Adjective modifier
- sheer: In sheer desperation in the final quarter they had to rely on their fitness to pull them through edging us by 2 goals.
- utter: In utter desperation, the company offered the SER a hundred year lease on its line in 1844.
- quiet: The phrase " quiet desperation " has always appealed to me.
- absolute: Even with decompression, swinging 14½ liters must have been an act of absolute desperation.
- economic: In Yugoslavia and Iraq the problem has been brutal and selfish leadership rather than ethnic or economic desperation.
- political: If he did not, it would have looked like an act of political desperation.
Preposition: into
- determination: She has encountered seemingly impossible odds and overcome them and through her experiences she has learned how one can turn desperation into determination.
- hope: The building of a revolutionary organization could help to begin turning desperation into hope.
Preposition: on
part: Is this all just desperation on the part of marketers?
Modifies a noun
- attack: Chose to attack on your next turn and the character should use their desperation attack.
- people: Poverty and desperation force people into this business with often the inevitable consequences.
Preposition: in
face: The confidence that permeates the book of Joshua has disappeared, replaced by a sense of desperation in the face of enormous obstacles.
Preposition: of
Browse dictionary entries near desperation
- ‹ desperately
- ‹ desperate
- ‹ desperado
- ‹ despatch
- ‹ despairing
- ‹ despair of
- ‹ despair
- ‹ desorb
- ‹ desolation
- ‹ desolate
- despicable ›
- despise ›
- despite ›
- despiteful ›
- despoil ›
- despoliation ›
- despond ›
- despondency ›
- despondent ›
- despot ›

