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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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 In part, this is a story about the short-term desperation of Republicans in the face of midterms that seem set to be disastrous. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026 Yet seemingly out of desperation, the nominees also have included total head-scratchers like Coldplay, Florence + the Machine, Matchbox Twenty, the Eagles — the fuckin’ Eagles, man! — Jem Aswad, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 The Liberty inbounded from under their own basket and got the ball to Stewart, but her desperation shot was no good as the clock ticked to triple zeros. — Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026 In all, the Dodgers drowned out that horrible tomahawk chop with some mighty hacks of their own, winning 3-1 while finally displaying some of the desperation that had been missing. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for desperation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperation

Noun

Plath is shown not as a passive victim of despair, but as a brilliant intellectual and visionary poet.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 16 Oct. 2026
Teacher of 19 years used to be able to help traumatized students without falling into despair.

— R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of despair

Noun

There was a moment this week when tears of sadness gave way to elation for one California couple.

— Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
The local journalists who cover the Bend community every day were not immune from the grief and sadness after today’s deadly shooting of children at an elementary school.

— Phil Helsel, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of sadness

Noun

In that sense, the dead-end setting of their journey across a volatile landscape in which humans might be an afterthought seems to reflect their hopelessness.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
What could that dirt road and the horizon beyond it mean—hope or hopelessness?

— Hilton Als, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of hopelessness

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desperateness

desperation

despicable

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“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of desperation

noun

Example Sentences

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