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
Examples of desperation in a Sentence
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s desperation in the air, as Dodgers fans blare car horns in futile attempts to get traffic moving.
—
Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
However, credit repair companies, looking to generate income by preying on consumers' desperation to hide bad credit, first mentioned it as a solution online in 2007.
—Frank McKenna, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Senior Harris campaign adviser Ian Sams said Trump's McDonald's event was a sign of his desperation as Election Day nears.
—Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2024
The performances are mostly pantomime backed by narration from the real heroes, with highlights including Ellis’ crazed intensity as a mermaid turned witch, Rex’s sad desperation as a man battling nature and an increasingly anxious Richardson as the world’s biggest Bassnectar fan.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desperation 
Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024
However, credit repair companies, looking to generate income by preying on consumers' desperation to hide bad credit, first mentioned it as a solution online in 2007.
—Frank McKenna, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Senior Harris campaign adviser Ian Sams said Trump's McDonald's event was a sign of his desperation as Election Day nears.
—Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2024
The performances are mostly pantomime backed by narration from the real heroes, with highlights including Ellis’ crazed intensity as a mermaid turned witch, Rex’s sad desperation as a man battling nature and an increasingly anxious Richardson as the world’s biggest Bassnectar fan.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for desperation
Thesaurus Entries Near desperation
Cite this Entry
“Desperation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/desperation. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share