desperation
noun
des·per·a·tion
ˌde-spə-ˈrā-shən 
1
: loss of hope and surrender to despair
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to rashness
Examples of desperation in a Sentence
She felt overcome by desperation.
the desperation of severe poverty
They hired me out of desperation, because they couldn't get anyone else.
Finally, in desperation, he tried to flee the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Though the film doesn’t have an outwardly strong political message, it’s set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, adding an extra layer of desperation to O’Connor’s character.
—
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 23 May 2025
And to think, that breakout had come entirely out of desperation for pitching depth.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Internet users can't get enough of the dog's desperation to nap, and the video has already gone viral with more than 171,500 views and over 25,300 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
The look of desperation on Lloyd’s face is priceless.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperation
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.
Ellise Shafer, Variety, 23 May 2025
And to think, that breakout had come entirely out of desperation for pitching depth.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
Internet users can't get enough of the dog's desperation to nap, and the video has already gone viral with more than 171,500 views and over 25,300 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 May 2025
The look of desperation on Lloyd’s face is priceless.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for desperation
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desperation. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
desperation
noun
des·per·a·tion
ˌdes-pə-ˈrā-shən
1
: a loss of hope and surrender to misery or dread
2
: a state of hopelessness leading to extreme recklessness
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share