desperate

About 9.80 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective In dire need (of something); having a dire need or desire.

   I hadn't eaten in two days and was desperate for food.

2. adjective Being filled with, or in a state of, despair; hopeless.

   I was so desperate at one point, I even went to see a loan shark.

3. adjective Beyond hope, leaving little reason for hope; causing despair; extremely perilous.

   a desperate disease; desperate fortune

4. adjective Involving or employing extreme measures, without regard to danger or safety; reckless due to hopelessness.

   He dove into the rushing waters in a desperate effort to save her life.

5. adjective Extremely bad; outrageous, shocking; intolerable.
6. adjective Intense; extremely intense.
7. adverb Desperately.
8. noun A person in desperate circumstances or who is at the point of desperation, such as a down-and-outer, addict, etc.

Similar words

despairing dire hopeless dangerous unsafe brave courageous critical do-or-die resolute

Often followed by

to and for need attempt effort struggle situation efforts

Word family

desperateness desperatenesses