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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Recent Examples of desperation
The scene revealed the desperation of migrants who on Monday learned that the border was now effectively closed.
—
Paulina Villegas, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
The three-touchdown deficit left Notre Dame in a state of desperation.
—Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Broken lands in urgent need Several Middle East lands were already in a state of misery before Oct. 7, 2023, and the recent fighting has only added to the desperation.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 16 Jan. 2025
An air of desperation hung over a handful of Premier League clubs last summer.
—Philip Buckingham, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for desperation 
Paulina Villegas, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
The three-touchdown deficit left Notre Dame in a state of desperation.
—Charles Odum, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Broken lands in urgent need Several Middle East lands were already in a state of misery before Oct. 7, 2023, and the recent fighting has only added to the desperation.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 16 Jan. 2025
An air of desperation hung over a handful of Premier League clubs last summer.
—Philip Buckingham, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for desperation
Thesaurus Entries Near desperation
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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