Cool MateDesperate vs Their case is hopeless
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Desperate
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
Their case is hopeless
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Desperate
| Desperate | Their case is hopeless | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdespərət/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdespərət/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðeə kɛɪs ɪz ˈhəʊpləs//🇺🇸 //ðɛr keɪs ɪz ˈhoʊpləs// |
| Meaning | Having a very strong need or desire, often because of sadness or fear. | Their situation cannot improve. |
| Example | She felt desperate to find a solution before the deadline. | In the face of such challenges, their case is hopeless. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about, be, feel, look, extremely, fairly, very, about | hopeless situation, hopeless cause, feel hopeless, find it hopeless, become hopeless |
| Antonyms | hopeful, content, calm | - |
| Common mistakes | 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. | Confused with 'there' and 'their'., Using 'hopeless' to describe minor issues., Assuming 'case' only refers to legal matters. |
| Usage notes | Use 'desperate' to describe strong feelings of need or hopelessness, often in serious contexts. It can be inappropriate in light-hearted conversations. | Use in discussions about difficult situations. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may seem overly dramatic in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Desperate vs Their case is hopeless
What's the difference between Desperate and Their case is hopeless?
Desperate: Having a very strong need or desire, often because of sadness or fear. Their case is hopeless: Their situation cannot improve.
Which is more common: Desperate and Their case is hopeless?
Desperate is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Desperate: She felt desperate to find a solution before the deadline. Their case is hopeless: In the face of such challenges, their case is hopeless.
Can I use Desperate and Their case is hopeless interchangeably?
Not always. Desperate and Their case is hopeless are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.