desperately

adverb

des·​per·​ate·​ly ˈde-sp(ə-)rət-lē How to pronounce desperately (audio)
-spərt-
Synonyms of desperately
1
: in a way that involves despair, extreme measures, or rashness : in a desperate manner
struggling desperately
desperately crying out
2
: extremely, terribly
desperately tired
desperately important

Synonyms of desperately

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Examples of desperately in a Sentence

all of a sudden everything went desperately wrong
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The judges were desperately hoping that everything would go well. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026 New York desperately needs housing and Aqueduct must be a major part of the answer. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 Firefighters deployed to the Turkey Creek pumping station and tried desperately to keep the engine room dry. — Kansas City Public Library Staff, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 The Sharks desperately needed some of that functional gravity. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for desperately

Word History

Etymology

desperate + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desperately was circa 1547

Browse Nearby Words

desperate
desperately
desperateness
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Cite this Entry

“Desperately.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperately. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on desperately

Nglish: Translation of desperately for Spanish Speakers

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