DESPERATION Synonyms: 77 Similar and Opposite Words

desperation

noun

ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən

Definition of desperation

as in despair

utter loss of hope during the famine her desperation drove her to do things she wouldn't have normally considered

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of desperation By the end, Bobby begins to have his own wants, curiosities and desires, Luster said — all filtered through a desperation to help and connect with Dina. — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Brown and her relatives say the fallen officer tragedy has reignited their trauma and desperation for justice. — Liz Crawford, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Without giving away key narrative turns, Holmes and her husband Billy Evans work tirelessly to reboot a version of Theranos with a kind of desperation. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 And on Sunday — despite driving with an impressive desperation (that included a heated Stage 2 exchange with his crew chief over the radio) — a few mistakes followed him. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for desperation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperation

Noun

The case against despair Not everyone reads the data that way.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Finding no legal recourse in a city with a crooked police department and judiciary, Matt gives in to despair.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of despair

Noun

Tsai, the Stanford professor, has conducted research on how emotion in American culture puts value on trying to always feel positive and minimizing negativity and sadness.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Survey findings About 28% of Gaston respondents reported moderate or higher levels of negative emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger or boredom, compared with roughly 10% in Union, Venkitasubramanian said.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of sadness

Noun

Few residents wanted to speak about politics, citing a general feeling of hopelessness and frustration.

— Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Burdick seemed to have drawn directly from McCarthy’s experience, the hopelessness of fighting with his father over a world his father had already ruined, the surrender to indulgence and mindless violence because…why not?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of hopelessness

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desperateness

desperation

despicable

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Style

“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of desperation

noun

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