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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 Taken further, if the Portis/Hardaway money had gone to Powell in a non-Portis Heat world, then there would not be quite the same seeming desperation to invest much of the remaining cap cash on a Mavericks buyout with Klay Thompson. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026 In nabbing Purdy’s 4-yard, desperation heave before cornerback Riq Woolen could with 1 1/2 minutes to go, Tonges put himself on the NFL map as a fourth-year veteran. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 15 Aug. 2026 But in the early 1970s, Hollywood was embracing sequels out of desperation in the midst of what was an extremely unhealthy distribution business. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 Later in the film, after the separation of the father from the rest of the family, the color red comes to signify a sense of desperation. — Matilda Hague, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for desperation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for desperation

Noun

Moving forward Growers who are moving on in the wake of the Del Monte collapse are experiencing a slew of emotions ranging from hope to despair.

— Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026
At Rimini’s Catholic festival, Leo urges believers to confront unjust economic and technological systems, asserting that ‘there can be no enemies’ and hailing young Catholics as a hopeful antidote to despair.

— Giada Zampano, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of despair

Noun

Although the wealthy Gulf oil states and small slivers of Arab elites flourished within this system, for most people the American order meant only violence, hopelessness, and deprivation.

— MARC LYNCH, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
But in recent months and years, a sense of hopelessness has increasingly gripped those still remaining on the island.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of hopelessness

Browse Nearby Words

desperateness

desperation

despicable

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of desperation

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tilde

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes