desperation

noun

des·​per·​a·​tion ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce desperation (audio)
1
: loss of hope and surrender to despair
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to rashness

Examples of desperation in a Sentence

She felt overcome by desperation. the desperation of severe poverty They hired me out of desperation, because they couldn't get anyone else. Finally, in desperation, he tried to flee the country.
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.
When guests arrive in town with a plan that will uproot Junie’s life, her act of desperation wakes Minnie’s spirit from the grave, also unveiling horrifying secrets about Bellereine. Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025 Their swollen limbs, skeletal frames, and mewling cries of desperation are what keep me awake at night. Jennifer Furin, TIME, 19 Feb. 2025 Suddenly, Alyssa’s quiet suburban street spirals into a warzone of desperation; neighbors and families turn against each other on the hunt for water. Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025 The difference is that the characters in Mickey 17 who aren’t there out of sheer desperation are true believers. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for desperation

Word History

Etymology

Middle English disperacioun, desperacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French desperaciun, borrowed from Latin dēspērātiōn-, dēspērātiō, from dēspērāre "to give up as hopeless, despair of" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at despair entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of desperation was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperation. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

desperation

noun
des·​per·​a·​tion ˌdes-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce desperation (audio)
1
: a loss of hope and surrender to misery or dread
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to extreme recklessness

More from Merriam-Webster on desperation

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