Meaning of Desperate
feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others
In simple words: Having a very strong need or desire, often because of sadness or fear.
Desperate in a sentence
- She felt desperate to find a solution before the deadline.
- In his desperate attempt to win her back, he wrote her a heartfelt letter.
- The team's desperate situation called for immediate action.
- After days without food, the hikers became desperate for help.
- His desperate act of kindness surprised everyone.
How to use Desperate
Use 'desperate' to describe strong feelings of need or hopelessness, often in serious contexts. It can be inappropriate in light-hearted conversations.
Grammar pattern
desperate + for/about
Memory hint
Desperate sounds like 'despair-it'—imagine someone in great need saying, 'I can't despair, I need it now!'
Related words
Collocations with Desperate
Common mistakes with Desperate
- Confusing 'desperate' with 'despairing'; they have different meanings.
- Using 'desperate' when 'urgent' would be more appropriate.
- Misplacing the focus may lead to awkward or confusing sentences.
Desperate appears in
Desperate in other languages
- Arabicالعربية
يائس
لديك حاجة أو رغبة قوية جدًا، غالبًا بسبب الحزن أو الخوف.
- Bengaliবাংলা
হতাশ, মরিয়া
খুব বেশি প্রয়োজন বা আকাঙ্ক্ষা থাকা, প্রায়শই দুঃখ বা ভয়ের কারণে।
- GermanDeutsch
Verzweifelt
Wenn man etwas ganz dringend braucht oder will, oft wegen Traurigkeit oder Angst.
- SpanishEspañol
Desesperado
Tener una necesidad o deseo muy fuerte, a menudo por tristeza o miedo.
- Persianفارسی
مستأصل، ناامید
داشتن نیاز یا میل بسیار قوی، اغلب به دلیل غم یا ترس.
- FrenchFrançais
Désespéré, Désespérée
Avoir un besoin ou un désir très fort, souvent à cause de la tristesse ou de la peur.
- Hindiहिन्दी
बेताब, हताश
बहुत ज़्यादा ज़रूरत या चाहत महसूस करना, अक्सर उदासी या डर की वजह से।
- ItalianItaliano
Disperato
Avere un bisogno o un desiderio molto forte, spesso a causa di tristezza o paura.
- PortuguesePortuguês
Desesperado
Ter uma necessidade ou desejo muito forte, muitas vezes por causa de tristeza ou medo.
- RussianРусский
Отчаявшийся, отчаянный
Испытывающий сильную нужду или желание, часто из-за грусти или страха.
- Urduاردو
بے تاب، مایوس، بے بس
بہت زیادہ ضرورت یا خواہش کا احساس ہونا، اکثر اداسی یا خوف کی وجہ سے۔
- Chinese中文
绝望的
有非常强烈的需求或渴望,通常是因为悲伤或恐惧。
More words like Desperate
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Frequently asked questions about Desperate
What does Desperate mean?
Having a very strong need or desire, often because of sadness or fear.
What is the definition of Desperate?
feeling or showing that you have little hope and are ready to do anything without worrying about danger to yourself or others
How do you use Desperate in a sentence?
She felt desperate to find a solution before the deadline.
Can you give another example of Desperate?
In his desperate attempt to win her back, he wrote her a heartfelt letter.
What are synonyms for Desperate?
Common alternatives include urgent, frantic, dismal, hasty, reckless.
What is the opposite of Desperate?
Opposite meanings include hopeful, content, calm.
What words go with Desperate?
It commonly pairs with be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about.
What are common mistakes when using Desperate?
Confusing 'desperate' with 'despairing'; they have different meanings. Using 'desperate' when 'urgent' would be more appropriate. Misplacing the focus may lead to awkward or confusing sentences.
How do you pronounce Desperate?
US: /["/ˈdespərət/"]/, UK: /["/ˈdespərət/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.
When should I use Desperate?
Use 'desperate' to describe strong feelings of need or hopelessness, often in serious contexts. It can be inappropriate in light-hearted conversations.
What CEFR level is Desperate?
"Desperate" is at B2 level on the CEFR scale.




